Citation

Schmid CF. Am. J. Sociol. 1933; 39(1): 30-48.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1933, University of Chicago Press)

DOI

10.1086/216313

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

During the four-year period 1928-32, according to the files of the Hennepin Country coroner and of the Minneapolis Department of Health, the total mean rate of suicides in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was 23.9 per 100,000 population-36.9 for males and 11.6 for females. The highest rate occurred at the center of the city and the marginal area surrounding. The trend during the period from 1900 to 1931 has been upward, being especially marked during the past three years. All of the suicides were over fifteen years of age, the rate showing tendency to increase with age. For native-born the rate is 19.0 and for foreigh-born 48.6 For males the married have the lowest rate; for females, single persons. For both females the rates of widowed and divorced are highest. By occupation, males agriculture and animal husbandry have highest rates with labors next; those in clerical and professional occupation have lowest. The highest rates for females are in domestic and personal service, and in trade. Tuesday is the most frequently chosen day for male suicides and Thursday for female. Saturday for males and Sunday and Monday for females are least often chosen. January and February show higher rates than other months. Asphyxia, firearms, poison, hanging and strangulation, and drowning rank in the order given as means of suicide. Physical disorders and economic difficulties rate higher as causes among male suicides, nervous and mental disorders and affectional difficulties among women.