title: Are elite cricketers more prone to suicide? A psychological autopsy study of Test cricketer suicides.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It has been hypothesised that the very nature of the game predisposes elite cricketers to higher rates of suicide.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aim to estimate the suicide rate of male Test cricketers and to determine the reasons for suicide.
  
  
  METHODS
  The suicide rate in male Test cricketers was determined. A psychological autopsy was conducted using published biographical data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty suicides amongst 2794 male Test cricketers from 1877 to 2014 yielded a suicide rate of 715.4 per 100,000 for that period. Health, financial and relationship issues were prominent; depression and alcohol misuse were common.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most suicides in Test cricketers occurred post-retirement in mid to late life with similar correlates to those found in the general male population. The idiosyncrasies of cricket are unlikely to contribute to suicide; however, the post-retirement welfare of Test cricketers should remain a focus of concern and the greater supports available to contemporary Test cricketers needs to extend beyond retirement.
authors.affiliation: Honorary Professor, University of Central Lancashire, UK.
authors.forename: Ajit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Student, John Lyon School, London, UK.
authors.forename: Shrenik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sava-Shah
authors.affiliation: Academic Department for Old Age Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, and; School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Chanaka
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wijeratne
authors.affiliation: Clinical Director, Academic Department for Old Age Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW; Conjoint Professor, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia b.draper@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Draper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D001680:Biographies as Topic; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D012179:Retirement / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D013019:South Africa; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology*; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: cricket; sport; suicide