False
Jumping is not the number one means of suicide in medical hospitals—the most common methods are ingestion (particularly over-the-counter analgesics) and hanging, with jumping being mentioned as one of several less common methods.
Evidence from Suicide Method Research
The available guideline evidence does not support jumping as the primary suicide method in hospital settings. Instead, the data consistently points to other methods:
Most Common Methods in Clinical Settings
Ingestion is the predominant method seen in emergency rooms and clinical presentations, most commonly involving over-the-counter analgesics or readily available medications taken by family members 1.
Hanging represents a significant concern in hospital settings, particularly because it is a highly lethal method that predicts further suicide attempts and ultimate death by suicide 2, 3.
Superficial cutting is another frequently observed method, though it typically carries lower lethality 1.
Jumping as a Method
Jumping is explicitly mentioned as one of the less common methods of suicide attempts, grouped alongside hanging, stabbing, drowning, and self-immolation 1.
When jumping is referenced, it appears most often as a threat (e.g., "threats to jump out of a window") rather than as a completed method 1.
Guidelines recommend reducing access to lethal means including jumping as part of community suicide prevention efforts, but this does not indicate it is the most common method 1.
Clinical Implications for Hospital Safety
Method-Specific Risk Assessment
Unusual methods (including jumping) signal higher risk: Use of methods other than medication ingestion or superficial cuts indicates greater suicidal intent and predicts future attempts 2, 3.
Lethal potential matters more than frequency: While ingestion is most common, methods like hanging and jumping carry much higher lethality and require the most intensive intervention 2, 3.
Hospital Safety Measures
Immediate safety precautions in hospital settings should include environmental modifications to prevent access to windows and heights, alongside removal of medications and sharp objects 2.
High-risk patients (those with prior attempts using lethal methods, abnormal mental state, or substance abuse) require hospitalization with appropriate environmental safety measures 2, 3.