Suicide rates rose in financial crisis

8^th July 2011 - The financial crisis affecting countries in Europe is far from over, but already researchers have found it has affected death rates, with a rise in suicides but a fall in road deaths.

The number of suicides had been falling across the EU, but that reversed as the economic climate worsened. However, UK and US researchers believe that higher unemployment cut the amount of the traffic on our roads, leading to fewer road deaths.

UK statistics

UK suicide rates rose by around 10% from an a recent low of 6.14 per 100,000 people aged under 65 in 2007 to 6.75 in 2008 and a stayed around that level in 2009.

UK road deaths fell by 25% between 2007 and 2009, from 4.92 per 100,000 people in the population to 3.68.

Countries with the biggest economic problems had the biggest rises in suicides. In Greece they rose 17% and in Ireland, the figure was 13%.

Health consequences

The study from the University of Cambridge, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is published in the Lancet.

The authors write that their findings: "reveal the rapidity of the health consequences of financial crises."

Reaction

Reacting to the study in an emailed statement, Bridget O'Connell, Head of Information at the mental health charity Mind says: "Just as our physical health can be affected by factors such as diet and exercise, our mental health can be closely linked to the social factors in our lives, such as employment status, whether we are happy in our jobs, debt and financial security.

"Recession brings with it low job security, high unemployment, and personal finance worries for huge numbers of people, all of which can have wider knock on effects and negative impact on mental health. Being made redundant in particular is known to trigger depression and suicidal thoughts, as is the case with debt."

She continues: "With the fall-out of the recession still with us, we'd urge anyone struggling with their mental health to seek support and medical advice."