A Note on the Reliability and Validity of Suicide Statistics

Abstract

Doubt about the reliability of official suicide statistics has been noted for over 200 years. Confounding issues include State or religious sanctions; there may be insurance considerations; there is family and community sensitivity about the recording of suicide; different professions are entrusted with the delineation of suicide; and there are differences between clinical and legal definitions of suicide. Systematic studies suggest that official figures provide a valid basis for broad comparisons, but that does not negate the importance of ensuring that suicide data are robust and reliable.