HUNTING GUNS IN HOMES AND SUICIDES IN 15-24-YEAR-OLD MALES IN EASTERNFINLAND

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the associations b etween firearm ownership, the presence of guns in homes, the use of ps ychiatric services and suicides in 15-24-year-old males in Eastern Fin land. Method: Police and medicolegal records of all suicides (n = 68) performed by 15-24-year-old males in the Kuopio province, Eastern Finl and, in 1988-1995 were studied. Information was sought about firearm o wnership, legality and purposes of use. Information was also sought ab out recent contacts with psychiatric services. Firearm suicides were c ompared with suicides by other methods. Results: The annual suicide ra te for 15-24-year-old males was 51/100 000. Sixty-two percent of suici des were committed by shooting. In 74% of these, licensed hunting guns were used. The proportion of suicides committed by legal hunting guns stored in the homes of victims was 60% of all firearm suicides. Sixty -two percent of firearm suicides were committed in homes of victims or in someone else's residence where guns were present. Only 2% of those who shot themselves were seen in psychiatric consultation during the 3 months prior to death. Conclusions: The presence of hunting guns in homes means easy access to a most lethal suicide method and is associa ted with a high suicide rate for 15-24-year-old males in Eastern Finla nd.