title: Suicide by hanging: multicentre study based on coroners' records in England.
abstract: We studied 162 cases of hanging by suicide occurring in 24 coroners' jurisdictions in England within a 6-month period in 2001. Prison and psychiatric ward suicides accounted for only 6% of these. The most frequently used ligatures (ropes, belts and cable) and ligature points (beams, girders, lofts and trees) are commonly available in community settings, limiting opportunities for prevention. In only half the cases (52%) were victims fully suspended with both feet off the ground. Four per cent had also taken an overdose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, Canynge Hall, Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2PR, UK.
authors.forename: Olive
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bennewith
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gunnell
authors.forename: Navneet
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kapur
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Turnbull
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simkin
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hawton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D003334:Coroners and Medical Examiners; D003644:Death Certificates; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D011330:Prisons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000092864:Suicide Prevention