Keith Hawton1, Helen Bergen2, Galit Geulayov2, Keith Waters3, Jennifer Ness3, Jayne Cooper4, Navneet Kapur4. 1. Centre for Suicide Research, University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK. Electronic address: keith.hawton@psych.ox.ac.uk. 2. Centre for Suicide Research, University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK. 3. Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Derby Hospital, Derby, UK. 4. Centre for Suicide Prevention, Centre for Mental Health and Risk, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Economic recessions are associated with increases in suicide rates but there is little information for non-fatal self-harm. AIMS: To investigate the impact of the recent recession on rates of self-harm in England and problems faced by patients who self-harm. METHOD: Analysis of data from the Multicentre Study of Self-harm in England for 2001-2010 and local employment statistics for Oxford, Manchester and Derby, including interrupted time series analyses to estimate the effect of the recession on rates of self-harm. RESULTS: Rates of self-harm increased in both genders in Derby and in males in Manchester in 2008-2010, but not in either gender in Oxford, results which largely followed changes in general population unemployment. More patients who self-harm were unemployed in 2008-10 compared to before the recession. The proportion in receipt of sickness or disability allowances decreased. More patients of both genders had employment and financial problems in 2008-2010 and more females also had housing problems, changes which were also largely found in employed patients. LIMITATIONS: We have assumed that the recession began in 2008 and information on problems was only available for patients having a psychosocial assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Increased rates of self-harm were found in areas where there were greater rises in rates of unemployment. Work, financial and housing problems increased in people who self-harmed. Changes in welfare benefits may have contributed. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: None.
BACKGROUND: Economic recessions are associated with increases in suicide rates but there is little information for non-fatal self-harm. AIMS: To investigate the impact of the recent recession on rates of self-harm in England and problems faced by patients who self-harm. METHOD: Analysis of data from the Multicentre Study of Self-harm in England for 2001-2010 and local employment statistics for Oxford, Manchester and Derby, including interrupted time series analyses to estimate the effect of the recession on rates of self-harm. RESULTS: Rates of self-harm increased in both genders in Derby and in males in Manchester in 2008-2010, but not in either gender in Oxford, results which largely followed changes in general population unemployment. More patients who self-harm were unemployed in 2008-10 compared to before the recession. The proportion in receipt of sickness or disability allowances decreased. More patients of both genders had employment and financial problems in 2008-2010 and more females also had housing problems, changes which were also largely found in employed patients. LIMITATIONS: We have assumed that the recession began in 2008 and information on problems was only available for patients having a psychosocial assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Increased rates of self-harm were found in areas where there were greater rises in rates of unemployment. Work, financial and housing problems increased in people who self-harmed. Changes in welfare benefits may have contributed. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: None.
Authors: M C Barnes; A M Haase; A M Bard; J L Donovan; R Davies; S Dursley; J Potokar; N Kapur; K Hawton; R C O'Connor; W Hollingworth; C Metcalfe; D Gunnell Journal: Pilot Feasibility Stud Date: 2017-09-19
Authors: M C Barnes; J L Donovan; C Wilson; J Chatwin; R Davies; J Potokar; N Kapur; K Hawton; R O'Connor; D Gunnell Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2017-03-03 Impact factor: 3.630
Authors: Galit Geulayov; Navneet Kapur; Pauline Turnbull; Caroline Clements; Keith Waters; Jennifer Ness; Ellen Townsend; Keith Hawton Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2016-04-29 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Jörg M Fegert; Benedetto Vitiello; Paul L Plener; Vera Clemens Journal: Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health Date: 2020-05-12 Impact factor: 3.033