Sex-specific trends in suicide method, Canada, 1971-1985.

Between 1971 and 1985, sex-specific suicide rates in Canada have diverged, with male rates increasing and female rates decreasing. Using linear regression techniques, we examined changes in sex- and method-specific rates and their association with changes in overall sex-specific rates. 92% of the variability in the overall female rates was explained by the declining rate for poisoning by solid or liquid substances. The most important change for males was the increasing rate for hanging, strangulation and suffocation which explained 65% of the change in the overall rate.