Unemployment Linked to Increased Suicide Risk Worldwide

Peter Roy-Byrne, MD reviewing Nordt C et al. Lancet Psychiatry 2015 Mar.

Consistent 20% to 30% increases in suicide with rises in unemployment rates are seen across multiple countries, age groups, and both genders.

Small, mostly single-country studies have shown the deleterious effects of unemployment on suicide risk. These researchers analyzed WHO mortality data and an International Monetary Fund economic outlook database for 2000–2011 to examine the effects of four economic indicators (unemployment, gross domestic product, growth rate, and inflation) on suicide rates across 63 countries, four age groups, and both sexes.

The investigators tried both linear and nonlinear models with and without various time lags. A nonlinear, 6-month time-lagged model gave the best fit, with suicide rates increasing 6 months before increases in unemployment rates. The effects were greatest when baseline unemployment rates were low. Suicide rates associated with heightened unemployment rates increased by 20% to 30%, regardless of country, age group, and sex. Links of suicide risk to other economic indicators were much less consistent.

Citation(s):

Nordt C et al. Modelling suicide and unemployment: A longitudinal analysis covering 63 countries, 2000–11. Lancet Psychiatry 2015 Mar; 2:239.