title: Suicide in Australia: meta-analysis of rates and methods of suicide between 1988 and 2007.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the changes in rates of methods of suicide in Australian states and territories between 1988 and 2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  Meta-analysis of suicide mortality rates and suicide methods (hanging, shooting, gassing, poisoning, jumping from a height, drowning, use of a sharp implement) for males and females in Australian states and territories in the decades 1988-1997 and 1998-2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes in use of suicide methods from 1988 to 2007; changes in the overall suicide rates and in rates for each method of suicide in Australian states and territories between 1988-1997 and 1998-2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a decline in rates of shooting, gassing, poisoning and drowning in males and a decline in shooting, gassing, jumping from a height and drowning among females, but an increase in hanging by both males and females in the decade 1998-2007 when the compared to 1988-1997. There was significant variation in the rates of and trends in methods of suicide between the states and territories of Australia between 1988-1997 and 1998-2007.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decline in rates of suicide in most parts of Australia coincides with a reduction in the availability of lethal methods. Consideration should be given to further measures to limit the availability of lethal methods of suicide.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. mmbl@bigpond.com
authors.forename: Matthew M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Large
authors.forename: Olav B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Nielssen
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000401:mortality; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000401:mortality; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D004332:Drowning / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000401:mortality; D011041:Poisoning / Q000401:mortality; D011159:Population Surveillance; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013405:Suicide / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000401:mortality