Archives of Suicide Research

In recent years, a third major method for preventing suicide (in addition to psychiatric/psychological treatment and suicide prevention centers) has been proposed, namely, preventing access to lethal methods for suicide. This paper reviews the evidence for the effectiveness of the strategy and makes recommendations for preventing suicide based on it.

Chinese women have a higher rate of suicide than Chinese men in the regions of mainland China currently reporting mortality data to the World Health Organization. This gender difference is documented, and possible reasons for the gender differences are explored using data from a survey of female suicides in Chuanzhou County in the Guangxi region of China. A definitive explanation for the gender difference must await detailed psychological autopsy studies.

This research examines the relationships between means-end problem solving and suicidality in a group of Scottish incarcerated young offenders. The paper examines the issue concerning whether trait or state problem-solving deficits are more inextricably linked to suicidality. Using the Means-End Problem-Solving Procedure [MEPS] with 61 inmates, results suggested a more complex interaction between problem-solving deficits, affective state, and suicidality than previously suggested. The current study suggests that although problem-solving is not a trait phenomenon, it may be a state corollary of suicidality. The current study also provides evidence to suggest that psychological distress is both a trait and state indicator of parasuicidal behaviour – in particular concerning depression, which was more pronounced among inmates with a parasuicidal history than found in the comparison group.