title: Associations between changes in the pattern of suicide methods and rates in Korea, the US, and Finland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The lethality of the suicide method employed is a strong risk factor for the completion of suicide. We examined whether annual changes in the pattern of suicide methods is related to annual changes in suicide rates in South Korea, the United States (US), and Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed annual data from 2000-2011 for South Korea and Finland, and 2000-2010 for the US in order to examine trends in the rates and methods of suicide. Data on suicide methods were obtained from the World Health Organization (WHO) mortality database.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Along with an annual rapid increase in suicide rates, the incidence of hanging increased steadily while suicide by self-poisoning steadily decreased in South Korea. In the US, along with an annual increase in suicide rates, the proportion of suicides committed by hanging increased while those committed with the use of firearms steadily decreased. In Finland, annual changes in the suicide rate and suicide method were not statistically significant during the study period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our present findings suggest that the increased use of specific lethal methods for suicide, namely hanging, is reflected in the increased suicide rates in the Korean and the US populations. The most effective approach for reducing overall suicide rates may be the implementation of population-based initiatives that reduce both the accessibility (e.g., access to firearms) and the social acceptability (e.g., effective and responsible regulations for reporting suicide) of lethal methods of suicide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National Hospital, 398 Neungdong-ro, Gwangin-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Subin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Asan Medical Center, Ulsan University College of Medicine, 388-1 Pungnap-2dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-736, South Korea.
authors.forename: Myung Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Asan Medical Center, Ulsan University College of Medicine, 388-1 Pungnap-2dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-736, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ahrong
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Asan Medical Center, Ulsan University College of Medicine, 388-1 Pungnap-2dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-736, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Pyo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hong
keywords: Hanging; Method; Suicide