Relationships between Unemployment Rates and Suicide Rates in Eight Countries, 1962–1976

Abstract

Annual variations in suicide rates between 1962 and 1976 were associated positively and significantly with concomitant annual variations in the unemployment rates of Canada, France, Germany (Federal Republic), Japan, Sweden, and the United States. These findings, which can be attributed primarily to the relationships between these variables among relatively young persons, indicate that in a variety of cultures the social and psychological conditions associated with relatively high unemployment rates also were associated with relatively high suicide rates. The predicted relationship between these rates was not obtained for Italy or Great Britain (England and Wales), and apparent reasons for the lack of relationship in these two countries are discussed.