In a survey of the suicide trends in Italy between 1959 and 1988, a slight increase was recorded both among males (+ 19%) and females (+ 10%). Geographically, the regions with the highest suicide rate are the Northern ones (up to twice the national average). The age groups with the highest suicide risk are those over 74 years. Gender distribution differences show that among females over the age of 65, the suicide rate rose by 70% between 1974 and 1989, versus 77% for males of the same age. Between 1978 and 1989, the suicide rate among people in search of a first job rose by 25%; among the employed it rose by 37%, while among people in search of a new job it rose by 594%. The highest specific suicide rale was recorded among the divorced (32.4 × 100000), while ihe level of education with the highest suicide rate is the secondary school (9 × 100000). Suicide methods include hanging (30%), jumping (22.4%) and firearms (11.5%).
