title: Pacific Island suicide in comparative perspective.
abstract: All available data for thirteen Pacific Island nations are used in a comparative analysis of suicide levels and characteristics. Age, sex and method of suicide are examined in detail. Global comparison shows Pacific rates are amongst the highest reported. Female youth rates exceed male rates in Western Samoa and amongst Fiji Indians. Method of suicide (paraquat ingestion) is instrumental in determining high rates in Western Samoa, especially in females. The broad causal theme is societal transition. Commonality and diversity are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Demography Program, Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Booth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010139:Pacific Islands / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends