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Citation |
Lorant V, Kunst AE, Huisman M, Costa G, Mackenbach J. Br. J. Psychiatry 2005; 187: 49-54. |
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Affiliation |
Health Sociology and Economics, Catholic University of Louvain, Clos chapelle aux champs 30.41, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium. lorant@sesa.ucl.ac.be. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2005, Royal College of Psychiatry) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
15994571 |
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Abstract |
BACKGROUND: Social factors have been shown to be predictors of suicide. It is not known whether these factors vary between countries. AIMS: To present a first European overview of socio-economic inequalities in suicide mortality among men and women. METHOD: We used a prospective follow-up of censuses matched with vital statistics in ten European populations. Directly standardised rates of suicide were computed for each country. RESULTS: In men, a low level of educational attainment was a risk factor for suicide in eight out of ten countries. Suicide inequalities were smaller and less consistent in women. In most countries, the greater the socio-economic disadvantage, the higher is the risk of suicide. The population of Turin evidenced no socio-economic inequalities. CONCLUSIONS: Socio-economic inequalities in suicide are a generalised phenomenon in western Europe, but the pattern and magnitude of these inequalities vary between countries. These inequalities call for improved access to psychiatric care for lower socio-economic groups. |