TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2015//
TI  - A brief analysis of suicide methods and trends in Virginia from 2003 to 2012
JO  - BioMed research international
A1  - Hassamal, Sameer
A1  - Keyser-Marcus, Lori
A1  - Crouse Breden, Ericka
A1  - Hobron, Kathrin
A1  - Bhattachan, Atit
A1  - Pandurangi, Ananda
SP  - e104036
EP  - e104036
VL  - 2015
IS  - 
N2  - Background. The objective is to analyze and compare Virginia suicide data from 2003 to 2012 to US suicide data. <br><br>METHODS. Suicide trends by method, age, gender, and race were obtained from Virginia's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner's annual reports. <br><br>RESULTS. Similar to US suicide rates, suicide rates in Virginia increased between 2003 and 2012 from 10.9/100,000 people to 12.9/100,000 people. The most common methods were firearm, asphyxia, and intentional drug overdose, respectively. The increase in asphyxia (r = 0.77, P ≤ 0.01) and decrease in CO poisoning (r = -0.89, P ≤ 0.01) were significant. Unlike national trends, intentional drug overdoses decreased (r = -0.55, P = 0.10). Handgun suicides increased (r = 0.61, P = 0.06) and are the most common method of firearm suicide. Hanging was the most common method of asphyxia. Helium suicides also increased (r = 0.75, P = 0.05). Middle age females and males comprise the largest percentage of suicide. Unlike national data, the increase in middle age male suicides occurred only in the 55-64-year-old age group (r = 0.79, P ≤ 0.01) and decreased in the 35-44-year-old age group (r = -0.60, P = 0.07) and 10-14-year-old age group (r = -0.73, P = 0.02). Suicide in all female age ranges remained stable. Caucasians represent the highest percentage of suicide. <br><br>CONCLUSION. There has been a rise in suicide in Virginia and suicide rates and trends have closely resembled the national average albeit some differences. Suicide prevention needs to be enhanced.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2314-6133
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/104036
ID  - ref1
ER  -