Aaron Reeves1, Martin McKee2, David Gunnell3, Shu-Sen Chang4, Sanjay Basu5, Benjamin Barr6, David Stuckler7. 1. 1 Department of Sociology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England aaron.reeves@sociology.ox.ac.uk. 2. 2 Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, England. 3. 3 School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, England. 4. 3 School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, England 4 Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. 5. 2 Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, England 5 School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA. 6. 6 Institute of Psychology, Health, and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, England. 7. 1 Department of Sociology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England 2 Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, England.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: During the 2007-11 recessions in Europe, suicide increases were concentrated in men. Substantial differences across countries and over time remain unexplained. We investigated whether increases in unaffordable housing, household indebtedness or job loss can account for these population differences, as well as potential mitigating effects of alternative forms of social protection. METHODS: Multivariate statistical models were used to evaluate changes in suicide rates in 20 EU countries from 1981-2011. Models adjusted for pre-existing time trends and country-fixed effects. Interaction terms were used to evaluate modifying effects. RESULTS: Changes in levels of unaffordable housing had no effect on suicide rates (P = 0.32); in contrast, male suicide increases were significantly associated with each percentage point rise in male unemployment, by 0.94% (95% CI: 0.51-1.36%), and indebtedness, by 0.54% (95% CI: 0.02-1.06%). Spending on active labour market programmes (ALMP) (-0.26%, 95% CI: -0.08 to -0.45%) and high levels of social capital (-0.048%, 95% CI: -0.0096 to -0.087) moderated the unemployment-suicide association. There was no interaction of the volume of anti-depressant prescriptions (P = 0.51), monetary benefits to unemployed persons (P = 0.77) or total social protection spending per capita (P = 0.37). Active labour market programmes and social capital were estimated to have prevented ∼ 540 and ∼ 210 male suicides, respectively, arising from unemployment in the countries studied. CONCLUSION: Job losses were a critical determinant of variations in male suicide risks in Europe's recessions. Greater spending on ALMP and levels of social capital appeared to mitigate suicide risks.
BACKGROUND: During the 2007-11 recessions in Europe, suicide increases were concentrated in men. Substantial differences across countries and over time remain unexplained. We investigated whether increases in unaffordable housing, household indebtedness or job loss can account for these population differences, as well as potential mitigating effects of alternative forms of social protection. METHODS: Multivariate statistical models were used to evaluate changes in suicide rates in 20 EU countries from 1981-2011. Models adjusted for pre-existing time trends and country-fixed effects. Interaction terms were used to evaluate modifying effects. RESULTS: Changes in levels of unaffordable housing had no effect on suicide rates (P = 0.32); in contrast, male suicide increases were significantly associated with each percentage point rise in male unemployment, by 0.94% (95% CI: 0.51-1.36%), and indebtedness, by 0.54% (95% CI: 0.02-1.06%). Spending on active labour market programmes (ALMP) (-0.26%, 95% CI: -0.08 to -0.45%) and high levels of social capital (-0.048%, 95% CI: -0.0096 to -0.087) moderated the unemployment-suicide association. There was no interaction of the volume of anti-depressant prescriptions (P = 0.51), monetary benefits to unemployed persons (P = 0.77) or total social protection spending per capita (P = 0.37). Active labour market programmes and social capital were estimated to have prevented ∼ 540 and ∼ 210 male suicides, respectively, arising from unemployment in the countries studied. CONCLUSION: Job losses were a critical determinant of variations in male suicide risks in Europe's recessions. Greater spending on ALMP and levels of social capital appeared to mitigate suicide risks.
Authors: M Martin-Carrasco; S Evans-Lacko; G Dom; N G Christodoulou; J Samochowiec; E González-Fraile; P Bienkowski; M Gómez-Beneyto; M J H Dos Santos; D Wasserman Journal: Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci Date: 2016-02-13 Impact factor: 5.270
Authors: Henrik Brønnum-Hansen; Mikkel Baadsgaard; Mette Lindholm Eriksen; Karen Andersen-Ranberg; Bernard Jeune Journal: Int J Public Health Date: 2015-08-20 Impact factor: 3.380