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Decrease in Suicide Rates After a Change of Policy Reducing Access to Firearms in Adolescents: A Naturalistic Epidemiological Study
Author(s) -
Lubin Gad,
Werbeloff Nomi,
Halperin Demian,
Shmushkevitch Mordechai,
Weiser Mark,
Knobler Haim Y.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1521/suli.2010.40.5.421
Subject(s) - suicide rates , suicide prevention , epidemiology , injury prevention , poison control , suicide methods , human factors and ergonomics , environmental health , demography , occupational safety and health , medicine , psychology , sociology , pathology
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.