This research analyzed 153 suicide reports, selected from 1998 to 2002 at the Legal Medical Institute in Limeira, SP (Brazil), whose assistance extends to eight cities nearby. Age, gender, marital status, localization (urban/rural) and main suicide methods were the studied data. According to the results, suicide represents 6.2% of all deaths. Also it is more common in males (82.0%), and in urban areas (88.9%). The age group from 21 to 40 is the most affected, in both sexes, and it represents 49.40% of the sample. The males' most used suicide methods are: hanging (56.0%) and fire gun (24.0%). Among women the most used methods are: hanging (39.3%) and poisoning (21.4%). The mortality rate was 4.88 suicides/100.000 inhabitants in this period. The results were compared to the data from Brazil epidemiological researches .
epidemiology; mortality; suicide
