@article{ref1,
title="The lethality of suicide methods: a systematic review and meta-analysis",
journal="Journal of affective disorders",
year="2021",
author="Cai, Ziyi and Junus, Alvin and Chang, Qingsong and Yip, Paul S. F.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The use of suicide methods largely determines the outcome of suicide acts. However, no existing meta-analysis has assessed the case fatality rates (CFRs) by different suicide methods. The current study aimed to fill this gap. <br><br>METHODS: We searched Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest and Embase for studies reporting method-specific CFRs in suicide, published from inception to 31 December, 2020. A random-effect model meta-analysis was applied to compute pooled estimates. <br><br>RESULTS: Of 10708 studies screened, 34 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Based on the suicide acts that resulted in death or hospitalization respectively, firearms were found to be the most lethal method (CFR:89.7%), followed by hanging/suffocation (84.5%), drowning (80.4%), gas poisoning (56.6%), jumping (46.7%), drug/liquid poisoning (8.0%) and cutting (4.0%). The rank of the lethality for different methods remained relatively stable across study setting, sex and age group. <br><br>METHOD-specific CFRs for males and females were similar for most suicide methods, while method-CFRs were specifically higher in older adults. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first meta-analysis to provide significant evidence for the wide variation of lethality of suicide methods. Restricting highly lethal methods based on local context is vital in suicide prevention.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0165-0327",
doi="10.1016/j.jad.2021.12.054",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.12.054"
}