Why are Suicide Rates Rising in Young Men but Falling in the Elderly? – a Time-Series Analysis of Trends in England and Wales 1950-1998

In order to investigate the doubling of suicide rates among males under 45 years of age in England & Wales between 1950 & 1998, the authors undertook a time-series analysis using routinely available age- & sex-specific suicide, social, economic & health data, focusing on the two age groups in which trends have diverged most: 25-34 & 60+ year olds. It was found that between 1950 & 1998 there were unfavourable trends in many of the risk factors for suicide associated most consistently with increases in divorce, declines in marriage & increases in income inequality. Further findings are discussed. (66 refs)