Title |
Impact of the economic recession and subsequent austerity on suicide and self-harm in Ireland: An interrupted time series analysis
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Published in |
International Journal of Epidemiology, June 2015
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DOI | 10.1093/ije/dyv058 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Paul Corcoran, Eve Griffin, Ella Arensman, Anthony P Fitzgerald, Ivan J Perry |
Abstract |
The recent economic recession has been associated with short-term increases in suicide in many countries. Data are lacking on the longer-term effect on suicide and on the impact on non-fatal suicidal behaviour. Using interrupted time series analyses, we have assessed the impact of economic recession and austerity in Ireland on national rates of suicide mortality and self-harm presentations to hospital in 2008-12. By the end of 2012, the male suicide rate was 57% higher [+8.7 per 100 000, 95% confidence interval (CI), 4.8 to 12.5] than if the pre-recession trend continued, whereas female suicide was almost unchanged (+0.3 per 100 000, 95% CI, -1.1 to 1.8). Male and female self-harm rates were 31% higher (+74.1 per 100 000, 95% CI, -6.3 to 154.6) and 22% higher (+63.2 per 100 000, 95% CI, 4.1 to 122.2), respectively. There were 476 more male (95% CI, 274 to 678) and 85 more female (95% CI, -9 to 180) suicide deaths and 5029 more male (95% CI, 626 to 9432) and 3833 more female (95% CI, 321 to 7345) self-harm presentations to hospital in 2008-12 than if pre-recession trends had continued. Men aged 25-64 years were affected in terms of suicide and self-harm with the greatest impact observed in 25-44 year-olds. The increase in self-harm by women was among 15-24 year-olds. Five years of economic recession and austerity in Ireland have had a significant negative impact on rates of suicide in men and on self-harm in both sexes. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 25 | 20% |
Ireland | 17 | 14% |
Netherlands | 7 | 6% |
United States | 4 | 3% |
Italy | 3 | 2% |
Germany | 2 | 2% |
Spain | 2 | 2% |
Canada | 2 | 2% |
Australia | 2 | 2% |
Other | 4 | 3% |
Unknown | 54 | 44% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 83 | 68% |
Scientists | 22 | 18% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 10 | 8% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 7 | 6% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 1 | <1% |
United States | 1 | <1% |
Ireland | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 125 | 98% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 18 | 14% |
Student > Master | 16 | 13% |
Researcher | 15 | 12% |
Student > Bachelor | 12 | 9% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 9 | 7% |
Other | 27 | 21% |
Unknown | 31 | 24% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 28 | 22% |
Psychology | 20 | 16% |
Social Sciences | 17 | 13% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 7 | 5% |
Economics, Econometrics and Finance | 5 | 4% |
Other | 13 | 10% |
Unknown | 38 | 30% |