부산대학교 도서관

The lay press and clinical literature usually address suicide in terms of individual cases, whereas the epidemiological literature refers to rates, that is, the proportion of the sum of individual cases divided by a given population basis. Actually, both approaches have their place in a discussion on a worldwide perspective of suicide mortality; accordingly, in this chapter, both will be used, in order to better understand some of the implications of suicide. With a particular view to the prevention of suicide, it is important to use disaggregated rates, at least by gender and age, in order to identify specific groups at risk for suicide. In addition, information about the methods used for suicide is essential, as it has been demonstrated that the restriction of access to methods can reduce suicide.