Link between recession and increase in suicide

By William Smith

The link between unemployment and poor mental health have long since been documented as have the statistics for suicide rates for the unemployed. Which comes first, poor mental health followed by unemployment or the reverse?

A new study by Cambridge University throws up some very interesting data on suicide trends in Europe. Authored by Professor David Stuckler and colleagues this study comes from the Department of Sociology and was published in the Lancet.

There had been an escalation in suicide rates across the continent up to the turn of this decade but it was evident from European suicide data that deaths by suicide were at last declining. Ireland was the slowest to show any signs of improvement but in 2004 there was at last some sign of improvement.

Stuckler’s study of suicide trends in Europe up to and including 2009 used figures obtained from the World Health Organisation’s database on suicide and on unemployment. From this date the authors were able to calculate trends in suicide in Europe.

There has been an increase in suicide since 2008 in all countries except Austria. 2008 was the year that economic crisis started across Europe.

This upward trend existed in both old and new EU states but varied slightly with the new states showing a rise of 7% and the old states 1%.

The two countries who experienced the most adverse economic problems (Ireland and Greece) also recorded the largest increase in suicide rates – 13% up in Ireland and 17% up in Greece.

The study noted an interesting observation that the trend began before the full extent of the recession had hit. This indicates the negative impact of the anticipation of job losses and job insecurity.

The impact of losing a job can have very adverse knock-on effects. The effects are not only felt directly by the unemployed person but also by the entire family. Bankruptcy and homeless are frightening prospects. The problem is more prevalent in men which is possible due to the fact that they are much more defined by their work.

This preliminary study points to ‘the absolute importance of providing mental health services to assist those in crisis due to the recession’.

The study clearly shows the link between unemployment and suicide increase and this can no longer be written off as ‘scaremongering’