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19/09/2003
Suicide rates in young men are rising, claim scientists
Conventional methods for assessing trends in suicide rates mask an "important increase in suicide rates among younger men", according to a letter appearing in this week’s issue of The Lancet from two scientists at Bristol University.
The conventional method for measuring population suicide trends involves analysis of suicides across all age-ranges, combining male and female suicides.
However, Professor David Gunnell and Nicos Middleton from the University of Bristol say that suicide assessment - which focuses on the age of the individual or ‘potential years of life lost’ (PYLL) - provides a different perspective of suicide trends.
They report how analysis of routine mortality and census data for England and Wales shows that although age-standardised suicide rates fell by 18% between 1981 and 1998, the PYLL before age 65 years increased by 5%. The researchers say that this is due to an increase in suicides in young men.
Professor Gunnell said: “In England and Wales, favourable trends in overall suicide rates have masked an increase in suicide rates in young men.
"This finding suggests that nations with similar patterns of suicide to those seen in England and Wales, such as Australia and the USA, might also have reductions in overall suicide rates yet deteriorating rates in young people. Such deteriorations are especially important if they signify a decline in young people’s mental health."
(gmcg)
The conventional method for measuring population suicide trends involves analysis of suicides across all age-ranges, combining male and female suicides.
However, Professor David Gunnell and Nicos Middleton from the University of Bristol say that suicide assessment - which focuses on the age of the individual or ‘potential years of life lost’ (PYLL) - provides a different perspective of suicide trends.
They report how analysis of routine mortality and census data for England and Wales shows that although age-standardised suicide rates fell by 18% between 1981 and 1998, the PYLL before age 65 years increased by 5%. The researchers say that this is due to an increase in suicides in young men.
Professor Gunnell said: “In England and Wales, favourable trends in overall suicide rates have masked an increase in suicide rates in young men.
"This finding suggests that nations with similar patterns of suicide to those seen in England and Wales, such as Australia and the USA, might also have reductions in overall suicide rates yet deteriorating rates in young people. Such deteriorations are especially important if they signify a decline in young people’s mental health."
(gmcg)
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10 September 2004
Pilot schemes set to focus on male suicide rates
The National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) has announced that it will be developing a number of mental health promotion pilots to try to encourage young men at greater suicide risk to seek help earlier.
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12 December 2003
Suicide rates in England drop by 3%
Suicide rates in England have fallen by more than 3% in three years, according to figures released today. Death rates from suicide and "undetermined injury" between 2000 to 2002 have fallen to 8.9 deaths per 100,000 population, which marks a reduction of 3.2% from the baseline rate in 1995 to 1997 of 9.2 deaths per 100,000.
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Suicide rates in England have fallen by more than 3% in three years, according to figures released today. Death rates from suicide and "undetermined injury" between 2000 to 2002 have fallen to 8.9 deaths per 100,000 population, which marks a reduction of 3.2% from the baseline rate in 1995 to 1997 of 9.2 deaths per 100,000.
13 April 2006
Suicide rate falls to new low
A report on the suicide rate for young men in England has revealed that the rate is continuing to fall. The report revealed that the suicide rate in the three-year period from 2002 to 2004 was 8.56 deaths per 100,000 of the population. This is a reduction of 6.6% from the 1995 to 1997 figure of 9.2 deaths per 100,000.
Suicide rate falls to new low
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19 November 2008
'Completed Suicide' Likely In Year After Attempt, Says BMJ
People who have tried to kill themselves and are suffering from major depression or schizophrenia are at a very high risk of actually committing suicide within a year of their first attempt, concludes a study published today on a leading medical website. The British Medical Journal's bmj.
'Completed Suicide' Likely In Year After Attempt, Says BMJ
People who have tried to kill themselves and are suffering from major depression or schizophrenia are at a very high risk of actually committing suicide within a year of their first attempt, concludes a study published today on a leading medical website. The British Medical Journal's bmj.
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