#Helium suicide series#
#Helium suicide free#

Suicide in all female age ranges remained stable. Unlike national data, the increase in middle age male suicides occurred only in the 55-64-year-old age group (r = 0.79, P ≤ 0.01) and decreased in the 35-44-year-old age group (r = -0.60, P = 0.07) and 10-14-year-old age group (r = -0.73, P = 0.02). Middle age females and males comprise the largest percentage of suicide. Helium suicides also increased (r = 0.75, P = 0.05).

Hanging was the most common method of asphyxia. Handgun suicides increased (r = 0.61, P = 0.06) and are the most common method of firearm suicide. Unlike national trends, intentional drug overdoses decreased (r = -0.55, P = 0.10). The increase in asphyxia (r = 0.77, P ≤ 0.01) and decrease in CO poisoning (r = -0.89, P ≤ 0.01) were significant. The most common methods were firearm, asphyxia, and intentional drug overdose, respectively. Similar to US suicide rates, suicide rates in Virginia increased between 20 from 10.9/100,000 people to 12.9/100,000 people. Suicide trends by method, age, gender, and race were obtained from Virginia's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner's annual reports. The objective is to analyze and compare Virginia suicide data from 2003 to 2012 to US suicide data.

#Helium suicide free#

Most persons committing suicide with helium were free of terminal illness but suffered from psychiatric and/or substance use disorders. In none of these cases were decedents suffering from terminal illness. In 6 of 10 cases, decedents suffered from significant psychiatric dysfunction in 3 of these 6 cases, psychiatric disorders were present comorbidly with substance abuse. The 10 asphyxial suicides involving helium identified in North Carolina tended to occur almost exclusively in non-Hispanic, white men who were relatively young (M age = 41.1 T 11.6).

#Helium suicide series#

Prior reports of suicides by asphyxiation involving helium were reviewed and deaths determined by the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to be helium-associated asphyxial suicides occurring between Januand Decemwere included in a new case series examined in this article. However, little is known about persons committing such suicides or the circumstances and manner in which they are completed. Suicide by asphyxiation using helium is the most widely-promoted method of 'self-deliverance' by right-to-die advocates.