Abstract
Abstract
Background:
Suicide rates in the Western world are consistently found to be higher among men than women. Epidemiological investigation of suicides enables us to highlight factors that promote suicide and those that are protective against it. This helps health professionals and health administrators to develop preventive strategies for risk groups.
Methods:
We analysed all suicides (n = 58.086) in Austria between 1970 and 2001 for the risk factors for committing suicide and for differences between men and women in methods of suicide chosen. The influence of seasonal variation, marital status and regional differences were also studied.
Results:
We found that the rate of suicide for men was higher than for women. Men used hanging as a method in nearly half of their suicides, followed by shooting. There was a seasonal suicide peak in late spring but no regional differences were found between men and women. Furthermore, marital status had a greater influence on suicides in men than in women.
Conclusions:
In Austria elderly men and men living on their own appear to be at greatest risk for committing suicide.
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