title: Characteristics of people dying by suicide after job loss, financial difficulties and other economic stressors during a period of recession (2010-2011): A review of coroners׳ records.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Suicide rates increase during periods of economic recession, but little is known about the characteristics of people whose deaths are related to recession, the timing of risk in relation to job loss, the nature of financial stresses and the sources of help individuals used.
  
  
  METHODS
  We extracted information on social and economic circumstances, mental health and help-seeking from the coroners׳ records of 286 people who died by suicide in 2010 and 2011 in four areas of England. We graded each death on a 5-point scale of 'recession-relatedness', measuring the extent to which recession, employment and financial problems contributed to the death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Financial and employment-related issues contributed substantially to 38 (13%) of the deaths and were thought to be the key contributing factor in 11 (4%). Individuals whose deaths were thought to be related to the recession were less likely to have previously self-harmed but were more likely to be employed (61% vs. 43%), have financial difficulties (76% vs. 23%) and financial dependents (55% vs. 23%). Amongst the subset of 11 people where financial/employment issues were the key contributory factor, only two (18%) had ever had contact with psychiatric services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Details on finances and employment were not systematically recorded by coroners. We found richer information was usually available for people who were living with other people.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Financial difficulties, little past psychiatric history, low levels of service contact and having financial dependents were more common in 'recession-related' deaths. This suggests that interventions to prevent recession-related rises in suicide should be focused on non-clinical agencies and initiatives.
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coope
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Metcalfe
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hollingworth
authors.affiliation: Centre for Suicide Prevention, Centre for Mental Health and Risk, Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
authors.forename: Nav
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kapur
authors.affiliation: Centre for Suicide Research, University of Oxford, Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hawton
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK. Electronic address: D.J.Gunnell@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gunnell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015984:Causality; D003334:Coroners and Medical Examiners; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D057172:Economic Recession; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014478:Unemployment / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Coroners׳ records; Economic recession; England; Suicide