Preference for fall from height as a method of suicide by elderly residents of New York City.

We studied all medical examiner-certified suicides in New York City from 1990 to 1998 to compare suicide methods used by elderly and younger adults. Associations between age and suicide method and place of occurrence were examined. Fall from height was more likely to have been used by individuals 65 or older than by those who were younger. Among persons who died by fall from height, those 65 or older were more likely than others to have fallen from buildings where they lived.