Suicides Rise When Economy Does Badly, And Fall When It Does Well

Editor's Choice
Academic Journal
Main Category: Depression
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry;  Mental Health;  Public Health
Article Date: 14 Apr 2011 - 16:00 PDT


A country's suicide rate follows the opposite path to its economic cycle - when the economy rises fewer people commit suicide, when it falls the number of suicides rises, a new CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) study published in the American Journal of Public Health reveals. The study covers the suicide rates and economic cycles from 1928 through 2007 in the USA and is said to be the first such study.

The link between the two rates is most acute among people aged between 25 and 64 - individuals of prime working ages, the authors wrote.

James Mercy, Ph.D., acting director of CDC's Injury Center's Division of Violence Prevention, said:

"Knowing suicides increased during economic recessions and fell during expansions underscores the need for additional suicide prevention measures when the economy weakens. It is an important finding for policy makers and those working to prevent suicide."

The report reveals that:

During periods of economic crisis the overall suicide rate rose, examples include:

• 1929-1933 - the Great Depression
• 1937-1938 - the end of the New Deal
• 1973-1975 - the Oil Crisis
• 1980-1982 - The Double-Dip Recession

During periods when the economy did well the overall suicide rate dropped, examples include:

• 1939-1945 - World War II
• 1991-2001 - The longest period of economic expansion and low unemployment

Lead author, Feijun Luo, Ph.D., an economist in CDC's Division of Violence Prevention, said:

"Economic problems can impact how people feel about themselves and their futures as well as their relationships with family and friends. Economic downturns can also disrupt entire communities. We know suicide is not caused by any one factor - it is often a combination of many that lead to suicide. But there are many opportunities for prevention. Prevention strategies can focus on individuals, families, neighborhoods or entire communities to reduce risk factors."

Below are examples of strategies:

• Counseling services and social support should be provided for individuals who lose their homes or become unemployed.
• Individual family and community connectedness should be promoted, such as increasing one's circle of friends, having more frequent social contact, preventing loneliness and isolation, liaising more closely with schools and churches. Support services and referring organizations should make sure services really are delivered, such as in primary care and mental health systems.
• Crisis centers and other community prevention services should be more readily available.

Hot-spots should be identified rapidly and helped with prevention programs.

"Impact of Business Cycles on US Suicide Rates, 1928-2007"
Feijun Luo, Ph.D., Curtis Florence, Myriam Quispe-Agnoli, Lijing Ouyang and Alexander Crosby
American Journal of Public Health, 10.2105/AJPH.2010.300010

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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