Suicide, Unemployment and Gender Variations in the Western World 1964-1986. Are Women in Anglo-Phone Countries Protected From Suicide?

Gender-related suicide & unemployment rates for 1964-1986 from 23 western countries were reviewed. A statistically significant correlation was found for both genders for 1974-1986 which saw major increases in suicide & unemployment in many western nations. As unemployment reached a critical level the statistical link with suicide became stronger. Major gender changes occurred, in particular increases in female suicide rates, though these were not uniform. While the expected greater male/female ratio for suicide was confirmed, there were significant varations between countries, with the ratio widening particularly amongst anglophone nations indicating differential gender changes in patterns. The possibility of some protective mechanism against suicide for women in anglophone countries is discussed. (23 refs.) JA