Comment on “Social Psychological Variables in Populations Contrasted by Income and Suicide Rate”

Ferrada-Noli (1997) found that suicide rates were higher in a sample of poorer Swedish counties in 1990. Henry & Short (1954) suggested that the suicide rate of higher status people would be more sensitive to the economy & that they would respond to the economy with suicidal rather than homicidal behaviour. These ideas were tested in all 24 Swedish counties. Suicide rates were not associated with per capita income or unemployment. Homicide rates were associated only with per capita income.