THE IMPACT OF AVAILABILITY, ATTRACTION AND LETHALITY OF SUICIDE METHODS ON SUICIDE RATES IN GERMANY

Substantial fluctuations have prevailed in both the rate and particula r methods of suicide in the Federal Republic of Germany during the pas t 40 years. The current study examines the extent to which the availab ility, attraction and lethality of particular methods of suicide affec t suicide rates. A close relationship existed in the period from 1949 and 1989 between the peaks of the suicide rate and the percentage of l ow threshold suicide methods according to De Catanzaro, whereby suicid e in this context is understood to mean suicide by shooting or intake of solid, liquid or gaseous poisons. Our hypothetically expected lesse r compensation between high and low threshold methods for women was co nfirmed. Between 1963 and 1976 the rate of suicide committed using dom estic gas receded dramatically. Within the same period, however, the r ate of suicide committed using other poisons rose accordingly.