1098 – Completed Suicide During The Time Of Economic Crisis: Recent Data And Future Prevention

Abstract

Background

To report recent official data of completed suicide in Italy during the time of economic crisis as related to gender and age.

Methods

Data for the years between 2006-2007 and 2008-2009 were extracted from the Italian Mortality Database to include all deaths by suicide and to obtain information on their age and gender.

Results

In the last period for which official data are available (2008–2009), there was a ten percent increase in suicide deaths among men 25 to 69 years of age suggesting that suicide rates are on the increase for those involved in the labor force. We also found a decrease in suicides among those aged above 70 years pointing to a lesser impact of the economic crisis on suicide among the elderly who retired from their work.

Conclusions

According to this findings there was an increase in suicide rates among Italian men which is suggestive of a possible contributing role of the economic crisis on such trend.