Citation

Bready JC, Bready RJ, Chute DJ. J. Forensic Sci. 2017; 62(4): 911-914.

Affiliation

Dutchess County Medical Examiner's Office, 168 Washington Street, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1556-4029.13352

PMID

28556918

Abstract

This study will discuss trends in suicide data compiled over 10 years in Dutchess County, NY, from 2004 to 2013. These data were based on reporting and examination standards recommended by the National Association of Medical Examiners and Department of Justice death investigation standards. Almost 300 cases were analyzed in terms of the deceased's gender, age, race, method of suicide, and weapon used.

RESULTS from this study agree with other reports showing significant differences for method of death both in terms of age and gender, with men more likely to choose firearms and women more likely to choose overdose. Furthermore, older persons were more likely to commit suicide by firearms, and the younger persons were more likely to commit suicide by overdose. However, other areas, such as method of suicide, differ from national statistics.

© 2017 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Language: en

Keywords

forensic science; manner of death; suicide; suicide methods; suicide note; suicide trends