Socio-economic inequalities in suicide: A European comparative study
Open Access
- 1 July 2005
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Royal College of Psychiatrists in The British Journal of Psychiatry
- Vol. 187 (1), 49-54
- https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.187.1.49
Abstract
Background: Social factors have been shown to be predictors of suicide. It is not known whether these factors vary between countries.Aims: To present a first European overview of socio-economic inequalities in suicide mortality among men and women.Method: We used a prospective follow-up of censuses matched with vital statistics in ten European populations. Directly standardised rates of suicide were computed for each country.Results: In men, a low level of educational attainment was a risk factor for suicide in eight out often countries. Suicide inequalities were smaller and less consistent in women. In most countries, the greater the socio-economic disadvantage, the higher is the risk of suicide. The population of Turin evidenced no socio-economic inequalities.Conclusions: Socio-economic inequalities in suicide are a generalised phenomenon in western Europe, but the pattern and magnitude of these inequalities vary between countries. These inequalities call for improved access to psychiatric care for lower socio-economic groups.Keywords
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