Work

Socio-economic inequalities in suicide: A European comparative study

Year: 2005

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Social factors have been shown to be predictors of suicide. It is not known whether these factors vary between countries. AIMS: To present a first European overview of socio-economic inequalities in suicide mortality among men and women. METHOD: We used a prospective follow-up of censuses matched with vital statistics in ten European populations. Directly standardised rates of suicide were computed for each country. RESULTS: In men, a low level of educational attainment was a risk factor for suicide in eight out of ten countries. Suicide inequalities were smaller and less consistent in women. In most countries, the greater the socio-economic disadvantage, the higher is the risk of suicide. The population of Turin evidenced no socio-economic inequalities. CONCLUSIONS: Socio-economic inequalities in suicide are a generalised phenomenon in western Europe, but the pattern and magnitude of these inequalities vary between countries. These inequalities call for improved access to psychiatric care for lower socio-economic groups.

Source: The British Journal of Psychiatry

DOI: 10.1192/bjp.187.1.49

Authors: Vincent Lorant, Anton E. Kunst, Martijn Huisman, Giuseppe Costa, Johan Mackenbach

Institutions: Erasmus University Rotterdam, UCLouvain, Erasmus MC, University of Turin

Language: English

Topic: Suicide and Self-Harm Studies

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W2115186238