2. Background
In 1980, the U.S. suicide rate stood at 11.8 per 100,000, with approximately 57% of cases
involving a firearm. As shown in Figure 1, during the next six years the suicide rate steadily
increased, reaching a peak of more than 12.9 per 100,000 in 1986. During this time, the fraction
of suicides in which a gun was used also increased slightly (Figure 2) and continued to do so
5 Azrael, Cook, and Miller (2001).
6
during the next several years until it rose above 61% in 1990. By 1998, both the suicide rate and
the fraction in which a gun was used were below their 1980 levels.6
The likelihood that an individual will commit suicide varies substantially by gender and
age. In 1998, a man was more than four times as likely as a woman to take his own life, with
gender-specific suicide rates equaling 18.6 and 4.4 per 100,000, respectively.7
Table 1
demonstrates that suicide rates are significantly lower among teenagers than among non-elderly
adults, but are especially high for those over the age of 75. Interestingly, this effect is entirely
driven by elderly male suicides, as women aged 75 and up are actually less likely than nonelderly
adult women to take their own lives.
From 1980 to 1998, suicide rates declined substantially for women but less so for men, as
is shown in Table 2.8
During this time period, the fraction of women who committed suicide in
the year fell by more than 20%, while the corresponding fraction for males remained virtually
unchanged. The decline was especially large for women between the ages of 20 and 34 and
those aged 55-74, whose suicide rates fell by approximately one-third. Male suicide rates in
these age categories also declined but by a much smaller percentage. Had it not been for changes
in the age structure of the U.S. population, overall male suicide rates would have declined and
the 20% drop for women would have been even larger.
The most disturbing trend that is apparent from this table is the increase in the suicide
rate among teenagers. Specifically, the suicide rate among boys aged 10-14 almost doubled from
2. BackgroundIn 1980, the U.S. suicide rate stood at 11.8 per 100,000, with approximately 57% of casesinvolving a firearm. As shown in Figure 1, during the next six years the suicide rate steadilyincreased, reaching a peak of more than 12.9 per 100,000 in 1986. During this time, the fractionof suicides in which a gun was used also increased slightly (Figure 2) and continued to do so 5 Azrael, Cook, and Miller (2001).6during the next several years until it rose above 61% in 1990. By 1998, both the suicide rate andthe fraction in which a gun was used were below their 1980 levels.6The likelihood that an individual will commit suicide varies substantially by gender andage. In 1998, a man was more than four times as likely as a woman to take his own life, withgender-specific suicide rates equaling 18.6 and 4.4 per 100,000, respectively.7 Table 1demonstrates that suicide rates are significantly lower among teenagers than among non-elderlyadults, but are especially high for those over the age of 75. Interestingly, this effect is entirelydriven by elderly male suicides, as women aged 75 and up are actually less likely than nonelderlyadult women to take their own lives.From 1980 to 1998, suicide rates declined substantially for women but less so for men, asis shown in Table 2.8 During this time period, the fraction of women who committed suicide inthe year fell by more than 20%, while the corresponding fraction for males remained virtuallyเปลี่ยนแปลง ลดลงมีขนาดใหญ่โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งสำหรับผู้หญิงอายุ 20 และ 34 และผู้ที่อายุ 55-74 มีอัตราการฆ่าตัวตายลดลงประมาณหนึ่งในสาม อัตราการฆ่าตัวตายของเพศชายในเหล่านี้อายุประเภทยัง ปฏิเสธ แต่เปอร์เซ็นต์น้อยมาก มันไม่เคยเปลี่ยนแปลงจะได้ปฏิเสธในโครงสร้างอายุของประชากรสหรัฐอเมริกา อัตราการฆ่าตัวตายโดยรวมเพศชาย และลดลง 20% สำหรับผู้หญิงมีขนาดใหญ่กว่าแนวโน้มมากที่สุดที่เห็นได้ชัดเจนจากตารางนี้เป็นการเพิ่มขึ้นของการฆ่าตัวตายอัตราในหมู่วัยรุ่น โดยเฉพาะ อัตราการฆ่าตัวตายในหมู่เด็กผู้ชายอายุ 10-14 เกือบสองเท่าจาก
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