The British Journal of Psychiatry 152: 632-637 (1988)
© 1988 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Female unemployment and attempted suicide

K Hawton, J Fagg and S Simkin
University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford.

Unemployment became more common among females attempting suicide in Oxford between 1976 and 1985, although the rise was less than expected from the increased general-population female unemployment rate. Rates of attempted suicide among unemployed women between 1979 and 1982 were 7.5-10.9 times higher than those of employed women, and were particularly high in women unemployed for more than a year. Many more unemployed than employed women attempting suicide had a history of psychiatric difficulties, were suffering from alcoholism, and made repeat attempts. Two possible explanations are: firstly, the secondary consequences of unemployment increase the risk of suicidal behaviour; and, secondly, women already predisposed to psychiatric difficulties and hence attempted suicide are more likely to become unemployed.

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