Abstract
A detailed investigation of trends in suicide rates in Scotland from 1974 to 1984 showed a complex pattern. Overall rates for men increased by 40% with the greatest increases in those aged 45-64. In contrast, rates for women showed a small decline, which was most noticeable in those aged 15-24. The well recognised decline in poisoning by domestic gas was seen over this period, and suicide by this method virtually stopped. Both sexes showed a decline in suicide by poisoning with drugs, although the decrease was larger among women. The fall in suicide rates among young women was almost all due to the decrease in this method. The rise in rates for men was largely due to increases in hanging and poisoning with vehicle exhaust gases, although all methods except drugs and domestic gas showed some increase. These findings indicate that suicide is an increasing problem with causes that are far from understood, so that prevention may be difficult.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Brewer C., Farmer R. Self poisoning in 1984: a prediction that didn't come true. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1985 Feb 2;290(6465):391–391. doi: 10.1136/bmj.290.6465.391. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Duffy J. C., Plant M. A. Scotland's liquor licensing changes: an assessment. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1986 Jan 4;292(6512):36–39. doi: 10.1136/bmj.292.6512.36. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Farmer R. D. Suicide by different methods. Postgrad Med J. 1979 Nov;55(649):775–779. doi: 10.1136/pgmj.55.649.775. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Jones D. I. Self-poisoning with drugs: the past 20 years in Sheffield. Br Med J. 1977 Jan 1;1(6052):28–29. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.6052.28. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kreitman N., Platt S. Suicide, unemployment, and domestic gas detoxification in Britain. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1984 Mar;38(1):1–6. doi: 10.1136/jech.38.1.1. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kreitman N. Suicide in Scotland in comparison with England and Wales. Br J Psychiatry. 1972 Jul;121(560):83–87. doi: 10.1192/bjp.121.1.83. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kreitman N. The coal gas story. United Kingdom suicide rates, 1960-71. Br J Prev Soc Med. 1976 Jun;30(2):86–93. doi: 10.1136/jech.30.2.86. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- McClure G. M. Trends in suicide rate for England and Wales 1975-80. Br J Psychiatry. 1984 Feb;144:119–126. doi: 10.1192/bjp.144.2.119. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Platt S. Unemployment and suicidal behaviour: a review of the literature. Soc Sci Med. 1984;19(2):93–115. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(84)90276-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ross O., Kreitman N. A further investigation of differences in the suicide rates of England and Wales and of Scotland. Br J Psychiatry. 1975 Dec;127:575–582. doi: 10.1192/bjp.127.6.575. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Smith R. Occupationless health. "I couldn't stand it any more": suicide and unemployment. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1985 Nov 30;291(6508):1563–1566. doi: 10.1136/bmj.291.6508.1563. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]