Female unemployment and attempted suicide.
Unemployment became more common among females attempting suicide in Oxford between 1976 and 1985, although the rise was less than expected from the increased general-population female unemployment rate. Rates of attempted suicide among unemployed women between 1979 and 1982 were 7.5-10.9 times higher than those of employed women, and were particularly high in women unemployed for more than a year. Many more unemployed than employed women attempting suicide had a history of psychiatric difficulties, were suffering from alcoholism, and made repeat attempts. Two possible explanations are: firstly, the secondary consequences of unemployment increase the risk of suicidal behaviour; and, secondly, women already predisposed to psychiatric difficulties and hence attempted suicide are more likely to become unemployed.
Hawton
K
K
University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford.
Fagg
J
J
Simkin
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*; D014478:Unemployment