University of Wisconsin–Madison ⋅ Medical College of Wisconsin
WMJ

Differences in Methods of Self-Inflicted Injuries by Sex in Wisconsin, 2002-2014

Nivedita Nair, BS; Joseph Archer, BA; Alexa Statz, MPH; Ousmane Diallo, MD, MPH, PhD

WMJ. 2017;116(4):240-243.

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ABSTRACT

Background: Despite suicide prevention efforts, there remains a high burden of self-inflicted injuries in Wisconsin.

Objective: Compare methods of suicide and nonfatal self-inflicted injury by sex in Wisconsin over a 12-year period.

Methods: Suicide and nonfatal self-inflicted injury rates in Wisconsin between 2002 and 2014 were compared by sex and method using data from the Wisconsin Interactive Statistics on Health. Percentages of total suicides by method of injury for each sex were calculated.

Results: Firearms and poisoning were the most common methods of suicide and nonfatal self-inflicted injuries, respectively.  Rates of both suicide and nonfatal self-inflicted injuries differed significantly by sex and method.

Conclusions: Suicide prevention strategies in Wisconsin must account for the variability of method of self-inflicted injury between sexes.

Author Affiliations: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wis (Nair, Archer, Statz); Wisconsin Division of Public Health, Department of Health Services, Madison, Wis (Diallo).
Corresponding Author: Nivi Nair, Health Science Learning Center, Rm 4263 (Attn: Nivi Nair PHS 803), 750 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705; phone 608.692.6819, fax 608.265.3286, email nnair@wisc.edu.
Acknowledgments: The authors thank Patrick Remington, MD, MPH, Maureen Durkin, PhD, DRPH, MPH, and Maria Mora Pinzon, MD, MS, for their feedback, technical guidance, and evaluation of the manuscript. Additionally, they would like to recognize the support of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
Funding/Support: None declared.
Financial Disclosures: None declared.
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