Suicide in Israel: 1985-1997.
OBJECTIVE
To examine trends in suicide rates in Israel over a 13-year period.


METHODS
All cases of autopsy-confirmed suicide in Israel from 1985 to 1997 were retrospectively reviewed.


RESULTS
An overall annual increase in suicide rates, with rates in men 3 times higher than those in women, was observed. Suicide rates were highest in the second and third decades of life. Unlike Western countries where gunshot wounds are the most common method of suicide for men and poisoning is most common for women, asphyxiation by hanging was the most common method used by men in Israel, followed by firearm wounds and jumping from heights. In women, however, jumping from heights was the most common method, followed by hanging and poisoning.


CONCLUSIONS
Increasing rates of suicide may be associated with waves of immigration to Israel, increased substance abuse and depression and the political and social climate. Further study to examine the precipitating factors is warranted.
Nachman
Ricardo
R
National Center of Forensic Medicine, Ministry of Health, Israel.
Yanai
Ornit
O
Goldin
Leib
L
Swartz
Marnina
M
Barak
Yoram
Y
Hiss
Jehuda
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*