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Citation |
Sutton L, Hawton KE, Simkin S, Turnbull P, Kapur N, Bennewith O, Gunnell D. Soc. Psychiatry Psychiatr. Epidemiol. 2005; 40(4): 324-328. |
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Affiliation |
Centre for Suicide Research, Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Oxford Warneford Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK, keith.hawton@psych.ox.ac.uk. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2005, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
15834784 |
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Abstract |
BACKGROUND : Gunshot suicides account for 2.5% of suicides in England and Wales. This amounts to more than 100 deaths per year. Information about such deaths may assist in the development of suicide prevention strategies. METHOD : We have examined coroners' inquest records for all gunshot suicides between 1(st) January 2000 and 31(st) December 2001 in 24 coroners' jurisdictions in England. RESULTS : Fifty-eight gunshot suicides were identified, including one homicide-suicide. Ninety-three per cent of cases were male. Sport or occupational usage was the main reason for owning the gun. Ten per cent were farmers or farm-workers. In 20% of cases the gun did not belong to the individual who used it for suicide. This was more likely in younger suicides. Seven (12.1 %) individuals used illegally owned handguns. Large amounts of alcohol had been consumed before the act in nine cases. Nearly three-quarters (72.9%) of individuals with diagnostic information had a probable diagnosis of depression. However, only 22.4% had ever had contact with psychiatric services. Two shotgun certificate holders were under the care of psychiatric services at the time of their death and two others had a history of previous self-harm. CONCLUSIONS : Strategies to reduce the number of gunshot suicides need to focus on limiting access to guns. These include restricting access to guns by non-certificate holders and those who may be at increased risk of suicide, and holding regular gun amnesties. |