UK recession may be to blame for over 1,000 suicides in England

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-08/bmj-urm081312.php

Public release date: 14-Aug-2012
Contact: Stephanie Burns
BMJ-British Medical Journal
Suicides associated with the 2008-2010 recession in England: Time-trend analysis

A paper published on bmj.com today suggests that over 1000 people have committed suicide due to the 2008-2010 economic recession in the UK (846 men and 155 women).

Suicides began to rise in the UK in 2008 following 20 years of decline - suicides rose 8% among men and 9% among women in 2008, compared to 2007. And even though suicides did begin to fall in 2010 figures were still above the 2007 averages.

Previous studies have concluded that unemployment does increase the risk of suicide and non-fatal self-harm but while suicides tend to increase during economic downturns, the strength of this association varies from country to country.