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Cited by 551Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesHomicide, Infanticide, and Child AbuseGun Ownership and Violence Research

Means restriction for suicide prevention

Open access
Yip, Paul SF, Caine, Eric, Yousuf, Saman, Chang, Shu-Sen, Wu, Kevin Chien-Chang, Chen, Ying-Yeh·2012·The Lancet
DOI 10.1016/s0140-6736(12)60521-2PMC PMC6191653
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Abstract

Limitation of access to lethal methods used for suicide--so-called means restriction--is an important population strategy for suicide prevention. Many empirical studies have shown that such means restriction is effective. Although some individuals might seek other methods, many do not; when they do, the means chosen are less lethal and are associated with fewer deaths than when more dangerous ones are available. We examine how the spread of information about suicide methods through formal and informal media potentially affects the choices that people make when attempting to kill themselves. We also discuss the challenges associated with implementation of means restriction and whether numbers of deaths by suicide are reduced.

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  • Most suicide attempter survivors do not ultimately die by suicide, which is why means restriction targeting the most lethal methods saves many lives.

    “Most suicide attempter survivors do not ultimately die by suicide, which is why means restriction, targeting the most lethal methods, saves many lives.(154, 155)”

    From Improving Suicide Prevention Through Evidence-Based Strategies: A Systematic Review (2021) · cites this paper as [155]

    The Introduction’s discussion of means substitution (page unavailable) says restricting common, highly lethal methods can lead to attempts with less dangerous means and a greater chance of survival. The paper does not establish the separate claim that most people who survive a suicide attempt never subsequently die by suicide. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Given the important contribution to global suicide rates of easy access to pesticides and firearms, and the clear evidence that selective measures to reduce access to these means may have on suicide rates, single measures such as legislation for stricter regulation of firearm access in the USA or further regulation on access to pesticides in China and other countries in Asia may have a tremendous效

    “Given the important contribution to global suicide rates of easy access to pesticides and firearms, and the clear evidence that selective measures to reduce access to these means may have on suicide rates, single measures such as legislation for stricter regulation of firearm access in the USA or further regulation on access to pesticides in China and other countries in Asia may have a tremendous”

    From Suicide and suicide risk (2019) · cites this paper as [125]

    Split into 2 atoms — 1 confirmed, 1 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Among environmental-based risk factors for suicide, one of the most important is access to means, and a large volume of work shows the effect of access to more lethal means as an important predictor of suicide.

    “Among the environmental-based risk factors for suicide, one of the most important is access to means. To this end, there is a large volume of work showing the effect of access to more lethal means as an important predictor of suicide 125 .”

    From Suicide and suicide risk (2019) · cites this paper as [125]

  • The nature of the method chosen will influence the outcome.

    “The nature of the method chosen will influence the outcome (Yip 2012).”

    From Means restriction for the prevention of suicide by jumping (2020) · cites this paper as Yip 2012

  • International variations in suicide methods suggest that the observed suicide pattern in many countries depends on the availability of the methods used.

    “International variations in suicide methods suggest that the observed suicide pattern in many countries depends on the availability of the methods used (Ajdacic-Gross 2008; Yip 2012).”

    From Means restriction for the prevention of suicide by jumping (2020) · cites this paper as Yip 2012

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Authors
Yip, P. S., Caine, E., Yousuf, S., Chang, S.-S., Wu, K. C.-C., & Chen, Y.-Y.
Affiliations
  • University of Hong Kong (HK)
  • University of Rochester Medicine (US)
  • National Taiwan University (TW)
  • Taipei Municipal YangMing Hospital (TW)
Corresponding author
Chen, Ying-Yeh
ORCID
Venue
The Lancet
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2012-06
Volume
379
Issue
9834
Pages
2393-2399
ISSN
  • 0099-5355 (ISSN-L)
  • 0140-6736
DOI
10.1016/s0140-6736(12)60521-2
PMC
PMC6191653
OpenAlex
W2155990223
Cited by
551
References
82
Citations by year
2026: 28 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 41 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 60 · 2020: 54 · 2019: 40 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 47 · 2016: 36 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 28 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 5
FWCI
4.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • The Lancet (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • The HKU Scholars Hub (University of Hong Kong) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • University of Hong Kong
  • National Health Research Institutes
  • Fogarty International Center (D43TW009101)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse
  • Social Sciences › Health › Gun Ownership and Violence Research
Keywords
means restriction, suicide prevention, suicide attempts, suicide methods, media coverage of suicide, suicide mortality
MeSH terms
Suicide Prevention, Humans, Mass Media, Public Health, Suicide, Risk Reduction Behavior

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