The most common method of suicide is what?

• A. Overdose of opioids
• B. Drowning
• C. Jumping from height
• D. Gunshot wound

Answer: (D)

Firearms are the most common method used in completed suicides because they are highly lethal and act quickly, leaving little opportunity for intervention once the act begins. This high lethality means gun-related attempts are more likely to result in death than other common methods like overdosing, drowning, or jumping from heights. Overdoses can be fatal, but many times they are survivable with timely treatment, which lowers their overall share of completed suicides compared with firearms. Drowning and jumping from heights occur as well, but they tend to have lower success rates and are less frequent as the method that ends in death. In practice, this understanding guides how clinicians assess risk and address safety, such as discussing secure firearm storage and access during crises.