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The recent economic crisis could be to blame for an increase in suicide rates
in Europe and America, say experts.
Their analysis in the British Medical Journal looked at data from 54 countries
to assess the global impact of the financial problems triggered by the collapse
of US credit and housing markets in 2008.
In the year after the crisis began, the male suicide rate rose by 3.3% overall.
This was largely in the countries where there were more reported job losses.
Unstable economy
The researchers from the universities of Oxford and Bristol in the UK, along
with colleagues from Hong Kong University, used data from the World Health
Organization mortality database, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and the International Monetary Fund's World Economic Outlook database.
In 2009, there was a 37% rise in unemployment and 3% falls in GDP per capita,
reflecting the onset of the economic crisis in 2008.
Start Quote
A snapshot survey of calls to our branches in 2008, just before the current
recession began, showed that one in 10 callers talked about financial
difficulties
The Samaritans
At the same time, male suicide rates began to climb.
There were nearly 5,000 'extra' suicides above the expected level for that
year.
These were mainly seen in the 27 European countries and 18 countries in the
Americas studied.
In Europe, suicides increased among 15-24-year-old men, while in America the
rise was seen in the 45-64 age group.
Yet the suicide rate for women did not change in Europe and only increased
slightly in America.
The researchers say the link they found is likely to be causal - meaning the
suicides were related to the emotional stress of being in a recession - but
they cannot prove it.
It is possible other factors may be at play, but mental health charities say
their own experience would back up the researchers' theory.
A Samaritans spokesperson said: "It is no surprise to us to be told that
suicides rise during recessions.
"A snapshot survey of calls to our branches in 2008, just before the current
recession began, showed that one in 10 callers talked about financial
difficulties. That had risen to one in six at the end of last year. Clearly
this is a factor that governments need to keep in mind when planning for
economic downturns."
A spokeswoman for the charity Mind said they too had been receiving more calls
to their helpline from people distressed about money worries and unemployment.
The national UK charity PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young Suicide) said while it
could not say that there had been any recent rise in calls from young people to
its national helpline specifically naming the economic crisis as a direct cause
of feeling suicidal, difficulty in finding work, managing finances and student
debt were "consistent themes" from those seeking help.