The partners' views on precipitant stressors in suicide

Abstract

All suicides (n = 1397) in Finland during 1 year were studied by thorough interviews with the surviving next of kin. We included 388 suicides after which a spouse's or a cohabiting partner's subjective views of precipitant stressors in suicide process during the last 3 months and earlier in life were determined. In 82% of the cases the partner considered life events as precipitant stressors for the suicide. Among men, the most common stressors considered as suicide precipitants were somatic illness (25%), interpersonal discord (22%) and separation (14%). Among women these were mental disorder (28%), interpersonal discord (18%) and death of a significant other (17%). Somatic illness and retirement were more commonly considered as precipitants among older men, whereas interpersonal discord, separation and financial trouble were more common among younger men. Among women, job problems were more commonly considered as precipitants for younger subjects. Among both sexes, childhood adversity was more commonly reported among the younger subjects.