The relationship between elderly suicide rates and the internet: a cross-national study.
BACKGROUND
Suicide rates generally increase with age. Internet websites and chat rooms have been reported both to promote suicides and to have a positive beneficial effect on suicidal individuals. The role of the internet in elderly suicides has not been studied.


METHODS
The relationship between elderly suicide rates and the prevalence of internet users was examined in a cross-national study using data from the World Health Organization and the United Nations website.


RESULTS
The prevalence of internet users was significantly and positively correlated with suicide rates in both genders in the age bands 65-74 years and 75+ years. On multiple regression analysis the prevalence of internet users was independently associated with suicide rates in both genders in both age bands.


CONCLUSIONS
Caution should be exercised in the attribution of a causal relationship and the direction of this relationship because of the cross-sectional and ecological study design whereby the findings are subject to ecological fallacy. However, the findings identify and support a need for further research.
Shah
Ajit
A
Ethnicity and Mental Health, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK. ajit.shah@wlmht.nhs.uk
D000368:Aged; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D013405:Suicide / Q000639:trends*; D014480:United Nations; D014481:United States; D014944:World Health Organization