Suicide is not a party political matter. People - especially males - kill themselves more often when employment is scarce (and far less during wartime). The highest rates ever recorded in England and Wales were in the midst of the great depression, which recovered more quickly than this one is doing. Thomas and Gunnell's (2010) graph of suicides 1861-2007 should be required viewing for all BMJ readers.
Thomas K, Gunnell D. Suicide in England and Wales 1861–2007:a time-trends analysis. International Journal of Epidemiology 2010;39:1464–1475 doi:10.1093/ije/dyq094
Rapid Response:
Re: Austerity, suicide, and screening
Suicide is not a party political matter. People - especially males - kill themselves more often when employment is scarce (and far less during wartime). The highest rates ever recorded in England and Wales were in the midst of the great depression, which recovered more quickly than this one is doing. Thomas and Gunnell's (2010) graph of suicides 1861-2007 should be required viewing for all BMJ readers.
Thomas K, Gunnell D. Suicide in England and Wales 1861–2007:a time-trends analysis. International Journal of Epidemiology 2010;39:1464–1475 doi:10.1093/ije/dyq094
Competing interests: No competing interests