QuickStats: Percentage of Suicide Deaths by Mechanism and Age Group — United States, 2011

In 2011, firearm was the leading mechanism for suicide deaths for all age groups, ranging from 44% of suicides among persons aged 5–24 years to 72% of suicides among persons aged 65 years or older. Suffocation was the second leading mechanism in the two younger age groups (41% of suicides among persons aged 5–24 years and 32% of suicides among persons aged 25–44 years). In contrast, poisoning was the second leading mechanism (22%) among adults aged 45–64 years and those aged 65 years or older (8%).

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6338a8.htm