Citation

Mehlum L. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 104.

Affiliation

Suicide Research and Prevention Unit, University of Oslo, Sognsvannsveien 21, Bygg 20, 0320 Oslo, Norway. (lars.mehlum@medisin.uio.no)

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16964047

Abstract

An association between the presence of fire arms in households and the risk of fire arms suicide in members of household where fire arms are kept is well documented. Since fire arms (mainly hunting guns) are very widespread in Norwegian households (>30% have at least one fire arm) and a very large proportion of suicides - especially in young males - are carried out with fire arms, to reduce the amount of this type of suicide has been targeted in the Norwegian national strategy for suicide prevention. New legislation introduced a delay of two weeks from the purchasing of a gun to the actual acquisition. Safe storage of fire arms in locked compartments in private homes was made mandatory. Information about the danger of suicide was disseminated through hunter's organizations and suicide prevention was included in training courses for new hunters. The Armed forces removed a substantial fraction of their very large number of guns placed in private homes of personnel of the home guard and the military reserve. Between 1987 and 2003 the rate of fire arms suicide in males dropped from 11.0 (/100 000) to 5.2. Whereas fire arms accounted for 39% of all male suicide in 1987, this proportion had dropped to 27% in 2003. Females continued to have very low fire arm suicide rates throughout the period.

Language: en