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

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

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.

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.

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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]  

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