SUICIDE TRENDS IN 8 PREDOMINANTLY ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES 1960-1989

Suicide rates between 1960 and 1989 were explored for eight predominan tly English speaking countries with similar national characteristics. New World countries showed significant similarities but differed from Old World countries. The two North American (NA) New World countries s howed more similarity to each other than the two Australasian New Worl d countries. The NA countries showed an unique plateau in the 1980s fo r males aged 15-29 years. Old World males of all ages showed common ri ses, suggesting a partial sex-specific influence in the young. However , trends among the 15- to 19-year-olds were significantly different to trends among the 20- to 29-year-olds in both sexes suggesting a subst antial youth-related contribution to the rises. Rates among 15- to 19- year-old females rose in the early 1960s, ahead of males but in parall el with rises among older females, suggesting part of the rise was sex - as opposed to age-related. Although rates among the 15- to 19-year-o ld females showed little change since 1970, this may be partly a funct ion of sex-related improvements - observable in older females - disgui sing unfavourable youth-related influences. Possible aetiological fact ors are suggested but remain speculative. Studies of other nations wit h common cultural characteristics may clarify trends and aetiological issues. Care should be taken to differentiate sex- from age-related in fluences.