Abstract
National Differences in Intelligence and Population Rates of Suicidal Ideation, Suicide Plans, and Attempted Suicide
Voracek M
Population rates of suicide ideation, suicide plans or attempted suicide from 3 independent multinational epidemiological surveys were not significantly associated with national intelligence quotient figures. This result conflicts with previous evidence from cross-national studies of a positive ecological correlation between level of national intelligence & rates of completed suicide. Across nations, the indications for the prevalence of suicidal behaviour also lacked close correspondence with suicide rates which may be due to the higher unreliability of assessing covert suicidal behaviour as compared to suicidal behaviour that is indisputably overt. Several alternative explantions for the current nil findings are discussed. (40 refs.)