scholarly journals Suicide in children and adolescents in England and Wales 1970–1998

2001 ◽  
Vol 178 (5) ◽  
pp. 469-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. G. McClure

BackgroundSuicide rates for England and Wales have been decreasing recently, but rates for young adult males remain high.AimsTo review changes in suicide rates for children and adolescents in England and Wales between 1970 and 1998.MethodRates for suicide, ‘accidental’ death by causes similar to suicide and ‘undetermined’ death for 10–14- and 15–19-year-olds are calculated between 1970 and 1998 using suicide data and estimated mid-year populations obtained from the Office for National Statistics.ResultsThere has been a substantial increase in suicide rate between the 1970s and the 1990s for males aged 15–19 years. This remains true even when ‘undetermined’ and ‘accidental’ death rates for causes similar to suicide are examined. The increase was associated with an increase in self-poisoning with vehicle exhaust gas in the 1980s and an increase in hanging which has continued into the 1990s. Although there was a slight decrease in the official suicide rate for females aged 15–19 years, ‘undetermined’ deaths increased. There is no indication of a major change in suicide rate in 10–14-year-olds.ConclusionsThe substantial increase in suicide rate in 15–19-year-old males may indicate increased psychosocial stress, particularly affecting this group.

1994 ◽  
Vol 165 (4) ◽  
pp. 510-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. G. McClure

BackgroundFollowing reports of recent increases in adult male suicides in England and Wales, suicide rates for children and adolescents are reviewed.MethodBy using estimated mid-year populations for five-year age bands, the suicide rates for 10–14 year-olds and 15–19 year-olds are calculated between 1960–1990. The same method is used to obtain rates for ‘undetermined’ death and ‘accidental’ death by causes comparable to suicide.ResultsThe only group to show an increase in suicide rate since the 1970s has been males aged 15–19 years. This increase persists even when ‘undetermined’ and ‘accidental’ death rates for causes similar to suicide are examined. The increase is associated with an increase in hanging and self-poisoning with vehicle exhaust gas.ConclusionsThe increase in suicide rate in 15–19 year-old males may indicate increased psychosocial stress, particularly affecting this age/gender group.


1984 ◽  
Vol 144 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. G. McClure

SummaryThe suicide rate in England and Wales has increased annually in the period 1975 to 1980. The increase has occurred in both sexes, but has been greater for males. There has been a decrease in suicide by poisoning with solid or liquid substances (including overdoses) and a marked increase in poisoning by vehicle exhaust gas. The rate of hanging, strangulation and suffocation has also increased substantially: taken together (ICD E953) these now form the most common method of suicide in males. Statistics for ‘undetermined’ and ‘accidental’ death have been examined, and indicate that the increase in the official suicide rate represents a real increase in suicides during this period.


1989 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 182-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas R. Chambers ◽  
John G. Harvey

The authors have calculated the suicide rate per million for individual causes of death in the Inner North London Coroner's jurisdiction and also a composite rate for all methods of self-destruction. These have been compared with the rates for England and Wales in the years 1979–1985 inclusive. Also calculated has been a total ‘non-accidental’ death rate comprising all deaths by self-destructive behaviour. For certain causes the two rates are similar but for the remainder there are wide differences. The effect of the law relating to suicide verdicts has been described and its effects discussed.


1987 ◽  
Vol 150 (3) ◽  
pp. 309-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. G. McClure

An investigation of the suicide rate in the decade 1975–1984 in England and Wales revealed an increase in rate for males of all ages, and a small decrease for young females. The increase for males has been greatest in the 25–54 years group. There has been a decrease in the number of suicides by poisoning with solids and liquids (including overdoses) for both sexes. Rates for poisoning by vehicle exhaust gas and by hanging, strangulation and suffocation have increased substantially during this period. In males, suicides by these methods now exceed those due to poisoning by solids and liquids.


2000 ◽  
Vol 176 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. G. McClure

BackgroundMethods of suicide and suicide rates in England and Wales have fluctuated considerably since the 1960s.AimsTo review the changes that have occurred in suicide rates in England and Wales between 1960 and 1997.MethodSuicide rates, derived from total annual suicides and the estimated annual resident population, were obtained from the Office for National Statistics.ResultsSuicide rates decreased in both genders between the early 1960s and the mid-1970s. The rate for males then increased between 1975 and 1990, while the rate for females continued to fall. Between 1990 and 1997, the rate decreased for males and females in all age groups, particularly for those using motor vehicle exhaust gas; the latter finding is associated with increasing use of catalytic converters.ConclusionsFollowing the increase in suicide among males until 1990 there was a decrease for both genders between 1990 and 1997, consistent with the ‘Health of the Nation’ target.


1972 ◽  
Vol 120 (556) ◽  
pp. 267-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. M. Barraclough

The official suicide rate for England and Wales has been higher than Scotland's (1) for at least 70 years. Since national differences in official suicide rates are quite frequently cited as an index of differences in social well-being, it is of some importance to know whether these differences are valid or whether they are merely artefacts caused by varying criteria for deciding what evidence is necessary to write 'suicide’ upon the death certificate.


2009 ◽  
Vol 194 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emad Salib ◽  
Mario Cortina-Borja

BackgroundA reduction in suicide in England and Wales has been reported after the attacks of 11 September 2001 in the USA. It may be plausible therefore to expect a much greater impact on suicide in the UK in response to the events of 7 July 2005, caused by the first suicide terrorist attack by Islamic extremists on British soil.AimsTo examine the effect of the 7 July 2005 terrorist attacks in London on suicide rates in England and Wales.MethodAnalysis of number of suicide (ICD–10 codes X60–X84) and undetermined injury deaths (ICD–10 codes Y10–Y34) reported in England and Wales in the 12 weeks before and after 7 July 2005. We used Shewhart Control Charts based on Poisson rates to explore adjusted daily and weekly suicide rates and rate differences with respect to 7 July 2005.ResultsA brief but significant reduction in daily suicide rate was observed a few days after the terrorist attack in London on 7 July 2005. Further reduction was also observed on the 21 July 2005, coinciding with the second wave of attacks. No similar reduction in suicide was seen during the same period in the previous 4 years. Poisson regression models with indicator variables for each day in July 2005 revealed a reduction of 40% of the expected daily rate for these 2 days only. We found no evidence of any longer-term effect on suicide.ConclusionsThe study findings are contrary to our expectation and only weakly support Durkheim's theory that periods of national threat lower the suicide rate through the impact on social cohesion. It is possible that previous experience of IRA terrorism in the UK may have limited the effect of the 7 July 2005 attacks on suicide in England and Wales. The shock value of suicide terrorism and its psychological potency appear to diminish over time as the tactic becomes overused.


1980 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. G. Thomson

A UK psychiatrist draws on his earlier experience as a police surgeon in Africa to compare homicide and suicide rates among the Xhosa tribe with those of England and Wales. A consideration of depression in primitive communities may, he suggests, provide the explanation for the low suicide rate found. The article speculates whether the vastly different homicide/suicide rate found can be explained in terms of aggression and civilization.


1996 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul H McCrea

AbstractObjective: The trends in suicide in Northern Ireland over a 70 year period were examined with respect to sex, age and method used, and then compared with rates of unemployment and homicide.Method: The records in the office of the registrar general in Belfast were examined to obtain data. Unemployment figures were obtained from the Department of Economic Development.Results: Suicide is increasing in Northern Ireland and particularly in young men (aged 34 and under). There is a relation to unemployment although it is not felt to be directly causal. Men prefer more violent methods although vehicle exhaust gas is popular. A large number of women still choose drowning.Conclusions: Despite all initiatives, the suicide rate is increasing in Northern Ireland, in common with many European countries. It represents a major health care issue. Measures of a social or political nature may have more effect than health care advances in reducing the rate of suicide.


2008 ◽  
Vol 193 (5) ◽  
pp. 406-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwame McKenzie ◽  
Kamaldeep Bhui ◽  
Kiran Nanchahal ◽  
Bob Blizard

BackgroundLow rates of suicide in older men and high rates in young women have been reported in the South Asian diaspora worldwide. Calculating such suicide rates in the UK is difficult because ethnicity is not recorded on death certificates.AimsTo calculate the South Asian origin population suicide rates and to assess changes over time using new technology.MethodSuicide rates in England and Wales were calculated using the South Asian Name and Group Recognition Algorithm (SANGRA) computer software.ResultsThe age-standardised suicide rate for men of South Asian origin was lower than other men in England and Wales, and the rate for women of South Asian origin was marginally raised. In aggregated data for 1999–2003 the age-specific suicide rate in young women of South Asian origin was lower than that for women in England and Wales. The suicide rate in those over 65 years was double that of England and Wales.ConclusionsOlder, rather than younger, women of South Asian origin seem to be an at-risk group. Further research should investigate the reasons for these changes and whether these patterns are true for all South Asian origin groups.


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