Suicide among Older People in Different European Welfare Regimes

Does Economic (in)Security Have Implications for Suicide Prevention

Bibliographic Data

ID15468563
AuthorsJing Wu (0000-0002-6559-4335, University of Gothenburg, corresponding author), Ying Li (0000-0003-0678-9535, University of Gothenburg), Margda Waern (0000-0002-8330-6915, Sahlgrenska University Hospital)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue12
Pages7003-7003
Publication date2022-06-08
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph19127003
PMID35742251
OpenAlexW4282043676
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited35

Older adult suicide rates vary widely within Europe, and differential welfare policies might contribute to this. We studied variations in economic indicators and suicide rates of people 65+ across 28 European countries and examined the effects of these indicators on suicide rates, grouping countries according to their socio-political systems and welfare regimes. Suicide data was obtained from the WHO European Mortality Database. The European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions and the European Union Labour Force Survey provided data on economic indicators. Linear mixed models were applied. Suicide rates ranged from 4.22/100,000 (Cyprus) to 36.37/100,000 (Hungary). Material deprivation was related to elevated suicide rates in both genders in the pooled data set and in men but not women in the Continental and Island countries. Higher ratio of median income (65+/under 65) was associated with lower likelihood of suicide in women in the South-Eastern European countries. In the Nordic region, the 65+ employment rate was associated with a decreased likelihood of suicide in men. These factors to some extent show economic insecurity against older people, which influences the likelihood of suicide. Active labor market policies and inclusive social environment may contribute to suicide prevention in this age group

Demographic economics · Economics · Environmental health · European Social Survey · European union · Injury prevention · International trade · Occupational safety and health · Poison control · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Suicide prevention · Welfare · Demography · Employment and Welfare Studies · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies

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