Format

Send to:

Choose Destination
See comment in PubMed Commons below
Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2010 Oct;40(5):421-4. doi: 10.1521/suli.2010.40.5.421.

Decrease in suicide rates after a change of policy reducing access to firearms in adolescents: a naturalistic epidemiological study.

Author information

  • 1Division of Mental Health, Medical Corps, IDF, Ramat Gan, Israel. lubins@zhav.net.il

Abstract

The use of firearms is a common means of suicide. We examined the effect of a policy change in the Israeli Defense Forces reducing adolescents' access to firearms on rates of suicide. Following the policy change, suicide rates decreased significantly by 40%. Most of this decrease was due to decrease in suicide using firearms over the weekend. There were no significant changes in rates of suicide during weekdays. Decreasing access to firearms significantly decreases rates of suicide among adolescents. The results of this study illustrate the ability of a relatively simple change in policy to have a major impact on suicide rates.

PMID:
21034205
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
PubMed Commons home

PubMed Commons

0 comments
How to join PubMed Commons

    Supplemental Content

    Loading ...
    Write to the Help Desk