Citation

Shah A, Sava-Shah S, Wijeratne C, Draper B. Australas. Psychiatry 2016; 24(3): 295-299.

Affiliation

Clinical Director, Academic Department for Old Age Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW; Conjoint Professor, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia b.draper@unsw.edu.au.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1039856216641311

PMID

27034441

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: It has been hypothesised that the very nature of the game predisposes elite cricketers to higher rates of suicide.

AIM: We aim to estimate the suicide rate of male Test cricketers and to determine the reasons for suicide.

METHODS: The suicide rate in male Test cricketers was determined. A psychological autopsy was conducted using published biographical data.

RESULTS: Twenty suicides amongst 2794 male Test cricketers from 1877 to 2014 yielded a suicide rate of 715.4 per 100,000 for that period. Health, financial and relationship issues were prominent; depression and alcohol misuse were common.

CONCLUSIONS: Most suicides in Test cricketers occurred post-retirement in mid to late life with similar correlates to those found in the general male population. The idiosyncrasies of cricket are unlikely to contribute to suicide; however, the post-retirement welfare of Test cricketers should remain a focus of concern and the greater supports available to contemporary Test cricketers needs to extend beyond retirement.

© The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists 2016.

Language: en