Suicide methods used by veterans compared to those used by non-veterans

Background/Purpose: While the use of firearms is the most common suicide method among the general population, recent data reveal an increase in suicide by hanging and suffocation. A detailed account of methods used by Veterans and differences between male and female Veterans is not available. This information would be valuable for programming suicide prevention initiatives to specific populations.

Methods: State death certificates supplemented with validated Veteran status information from 11 states (N=83,543) for the years 1999 through 2009 were used to compute, rank, and compare the prevalence of specific suicide methods used by Veterans and non-Veterans. Males and females were evaluated separately.

Results/Outcomes: Among suicide descendants in the general population, the most common suicide methods among males were firearms (57%), hanging/suffocation (22%), and poisoning (14%). Within the Veteran male population the most common suicide methods were also firearms (66%), hanging/suffocation (15%) and poisoning (14%). Within the general population, the top three methods used by females were poisoning (42%), firearms (31%), and hanging/suffocation (16%). Methods used by female Veterans were poisoning (39%), firearms (38%), and hanging/suffocation (13%).

Conclusions: Among the Veteran population, both males and females used firearms at higher rates than males and females in the general population. For females, poisoning was the most common method, followed by firearms and hanging/suffocation, regardless of Veteran status. For males, firearms were the cost common method, followed by hanging/strangulation and poisoning, regardless of Veteran status.