Suicide mortality in Finland during an economic cycle, 1985-1995

This is a study on associations between suicide mortality, unemployment, di vorce rate and mean alcohol consumption during an economic cycle in Finland , from 1985 to 1995. Data on annual suicide mortality, gross domestic produ ct, unemployment, divorce rate and mean alcohol consumption were collected from official Finnish statistics. Regression analyses using a correction fo r serial autocorrelation were performed. Suicide mortality in both males an d females increased during an economic upswing from 1985 to 1990, and decre ased during an economic recession from 1990 to 1995. Suicide mortality was not associated with unemployment or divorce rate. These results are opposed to those of many previous studies. However, a significant association was found between male suicide mortality and mean alcohol consumption, in accor d with other studies. In conclusion, the results suggest diversity in assoc iations between suicide mortality, socioeconomic factors and alcohol consum ption.