AN ANALYSIS OF SUICIDE METHODS INDICATES THAT FIREARMS ARE BY FAR THE MOST FREQUENTLY UTILIZED, FOLLOWED BY POISONS OR GASES, AND HANGING. AN ANALYSIS BY SEX SHOWS THAT MEN ARE MORE THAN TWICE AS LIKELY TO USE FIREARMS AS A SUICIDE METHOD THAN WOMEN. HYPOTHESES FOR THIS SEX DIFFERENCE INCLUDE TRADITIONAL MALE NORMS THAT ACCEPT VIOLENCE, FEMALE FEARS OF DISFIGUREMENT, AND A DIFFERENCE IN ACTUAL INTENTION TO DIE. THIS LAST HYPOTHESIS RECEIVES PARTIAL SUPPORT FROM THE FACT THAT MEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO CHOOSE A MORE CERTAIN METHOD OF SUICIDE (FIREARMS) THAN ARE WOMEN AND ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO COMPLETE A SUICIDE AS WOMEN. FURTHER, ATTEMPTERS ARE LIKELY TO USE LESS LETHAL METHODS THAN ARE SERIOUS COMMITTERS. WHILE THE PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONAL REALIZES THAT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO PREVENT ALL SUICIDES, MANY SUICIDES, ESPECIALLY THOSE DONE IMPULSIVELY OR WITH LOW SUICIDAL INTENT, COULD BE PREVENTED BY CONTROLLING THE AVAILABILITY AND LETHALITY OF THE METHOD USED. AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS CAN SERVE TO REDUCE SUICIDES IS SEEN IN THE BRITISH ISLES WHERE COMPLETELY PHASING OUT COKE GAS (A PRIMARY METHOD OF SUICIDE) IN SOME CITIES RESULTED IN DRASTIC REDUCTIONS IN THE SUICIDE RATES. DECREASING THE POTENTIAL LETHALITY OF COKE GAS IN AREAS STILL USING IT ALSO RESULTED IN A 45-PERCENT REDUCTION IN SUICIDE RATES. OTHER METHODS COULD BE SIMILARLY CONTROLLED. FOR INSTANCE, REDUCTION IN THE AVAILABILITY OF FIREARMS THROUGH LEGISLATION AND EMPHASIS ON LESS LETHAL METHODS OF SELF-PROTECTION SUCH AS MACE OR PELLET GUNS COULD SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THE PERCENTAGE OF FIREARM SUICIDES, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE IMPULSIVE AND INVOLVE A WEAPON KEPT IN THE HOME PRIMARILY FOR SELF-DEFENSE. STRICTER CONTROLS ON HIGHLY LETHAL DRUGS AND SUBSTITUTING SAFER NONLETHAL DRUGS COULD ALSO REDUCE SUICIDES. FINALLY, THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, WHICH HAS BEEN A POPULAR METHOD OF SUICIDE IN SAN FRANCISCO BECAUSE OF ITS EASY ACCESS AND HIGH LETHALITY, COULD BE FITTED WITH BARRIERS. WHILE IT MIGHT BE ARGUED THAT DECREASED AVAILABILITY/LETHALITY OF ONE METHOD, STATISTICS DO NOT SUPPORT THIS ASSUMPTION. AMONG THOSE WHO UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPT SUICIDE, ONLY A VERY SMALL PROPORTION GO ON LATER TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE ACT. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (JAP) REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (JAP)