Suicide rate linked to deprivation

Young people in deprived areas are far more likely to commit suicide than those in more affluent areas, according to research published today.

The study in Scotland found the gap between the suicide rates in poor and rich areas has grown significantly since the 1980s.

The suicide rate among young women in the most deprived areas of Scotland is six times greater than in the most affluent areas, where the number taking their own lives fell between 1980 and 2001, according to researchers at St Andrews University.

The suicide rate among young men in deprived areas also rose sharply over the same period. Although the rate did not fall in more affluent areas, the increase in the number who killed themselves was much smaller, said the study, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

The researchers concluded that: "there is a growing social polarisation of suicide among young people in the most deprived areas of Scotland." They called on the Scottish executive to urgently address the increased suicide risk associated with deprivation in its suicide prevention strategy, which aims to reduce the number of suicides by 20% by 2013.

The findings came as the Department of Health announced that the suicide rate in England was at the lowest level ever recorded.

The mental health tsar, Louis Appleby, said the suicide rate for 2001-03 was 8.6 of the population - down from a peak of 11.4 per 100,000 around 1990.

His report on the progress of England's national suicide prevention strategy, published today, found that the suicide rate for young men has fallen to its lowest level for almost 20 years, dropping almost 30% from its peak in 1998.

Professor Appleby said: "The overall rate of suicides is at the lowest rate ever recorded and we are seeing a sustained downward trend. I'm particularly encouraged with the reduction in suicide rates in young men, the first sustained downward trend since the problem of suicides in this group first escalated 25 years ago.

"Whilst these figures are positive, there were still nearly 4,500 registered suicides in 2003. There are many different reasons why people decide to take their own life, and each suicide represents both an individual tragedy and a loss to society. We must continue to work hard to ensure this downward trend continues."

Another study in the BMJ found that young men who do badly in intelligence tests are at greater risk of committing suicide.

Researchers looked at the results of four intelligence tests on more than 987,000 Swedish men, performed on conscription into military service.

After monitoring the conscripts for up to 26 years, the team concluded that that better performance in intelligence tests were linked to a reduced risk of suicide.