This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Related articles in BJP
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by SCHAPIRA, K.
Right arrow Articles by KAY, D. W. K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by SCHAPIRA, K.
Right arrow Articles by KAY, D. W. K.
The British Journal of Psychiatry (2001) 178: 458-464
© 2001 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Relationship of suicide rates to social factors and availability of lethal methods

Comparison of suicide in Newcastle upon Tyne 1961-1965 and 1985-1994{dagger}

KURT SCHAPIRA, MD, Emeritus Consultant Psychiatrist, Honorary Senior Research Associate, K. R. LINSLEY, MRCPsych, Formerly Specialist Registrar, A. LINSLEY, Formerly Junior Research Associate, T. P. KELLY, PhD., Senior Lecturer in Psychology and D. W. K. KAY, Visiting Professor in the Department of Psychiatry

University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne

Correspondence: Dr K. Schapira, 4 Brookfield, Westfield, Gosforth, NE3 4YB, UK. E-mail: kurt.schapira{at}ncl.ac.uk

Declaration of interest None.

{dagger} See pp.465–468, this issue.

Background The UK Government's White Paper Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation included among its targets a reduction in suicide.

Aims To study causes of change in suicide rate over a 30-year period in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Method Suicide rates and methods, based on coroners' inquest records, were compared over two periods (1961-1965 and 1985-1994) and differences were related to changes in exposure to poisions and prescribed drugs, and to socio-demographic changes.

Results Demographic and social changes had taken place which would adversely affect suicide rates. However, a dramatic fall was found in the rate for women, and a modest decline in that for men. Reduced exposure to carbon monoxide and to barbiturates coincided with the fall in rates.

Conclusions Reduced exposure to lethal methods was responsible for the fall in rate in both genders, while the gender difference in favour of women may be related to their preference for non-violent methods or to their being less affected by the social changes.


Related articles in BJP:

Highlights of this issue
ELIZABETH WALSH
BJP 2001 178: 0. [Full Text]  

Open verdict v. suicide — importance to research
K. R. LINSLEY, KURT SCHAPIRA, and T. P. KELLY
BJP 2001 178: 465-468. [Abstract] [Full Text]  



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Br. J. PsychiatryHome page
K. R. LINSLEY, N. JOHNSON, and J. MARTIN
Police contact within 3 months of suicide and associated health service contact
The British Journal of Psychiatry, February 1, 2007; 190(2): 170 - 171.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum Exp ToxicolHome page
E. Mert and N. G. Bilgin
Demographical, aetiological and clinical characteristics of poisonings in Mersin, Turkey
Human and Experimental Toxicology, April 1, 2006; 25(4): 217 - 223.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 J PsychopharmacolHome page
D. J. Nutt
Death by tricyclic: the real antidepressant scandal?
J Psychopharmacol, March 1, 2005; 19(2): 123 - 124.
[PDF]

Home page
 Br Med BullHome page
M. Oates
Perinatal psychiatric disorders: a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality
Br. Med. Bull., December 1, 2003; 67(1): 219 - 229.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Br. J. PsychiatryHome page
M. OATES
Suicide: the leading cause of maternal death
The British Journal of Psychiatry, October 1, 2003; 183(4): 279 - 281.
[Full Text] [PDF]