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| Risk Factors
> Demographics |
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The demography of suicidal behavior including suicide is in a state of relative evolution, as there is scientific evidence that the demographics are changing both within countries and also across countries over the past century.
Age and Sex
The ratio of suicide is far higher in males, varying from between 3:1 to 8:1. In the past decade there has been a significant rise in youth suicide in several countries, sometimes as much as a four-fold increase, particularly in males. This has been attributed to increased alcohol consumption in this group, a greater sense of social alienation, and an expanding culture of death that pervades the pop airwaves reaching younger males in particular, and an under-recognition and treatment of male depression. Scientists continue to study why the suicide rate in young males appears to be increasing, and other factors as yet unidentified may also contribute. Females are not however risk-free as evidenced by the approximately 7,000 female suicides annually in the USA (approximately 20,000 male US suicides per year). Although much recent and justified attention has been focussed on the tragedy of youth suicide, suicide rates are higher still amongst older men over 65. The risk for women also increases with age with post-menopausal women at particular risk.
Race/Ethnicity
Racial factors appear to contribute to variation in rates of suicide. Far more Caucasians than non-Caucasians complete suicide. Hispanics and Africans for example have much lower suicide rates in their native countries, but their rates increase following emigration to countries such as the USA where suicide rates are generally higher. However the racial variation is complex phenomenon. For example some First Nation tribes in Canada have a suicide rate 8 times the national average, whereas aboriginal tribes in New Zealand have a lower suicide rate than their national average. Suicide rates also vary across countries with certain countries having rates of about 50/100,000 (Hungary), whereas other countries have rates as low as 10/100,000 (Greece). Other countries which traditionally had a low rate of suicide such as Ireland have witnessed a rise in the past decade from 7/100,000 to over 20/1000,000.
Employment
Traditionally, scientists reported that unemployment was closely associated with increased risk for suicide. Recent research has suggested however that in regions of very high unemployment, unemployment is more socially accepted and suicide rates are not increased in these regions.
Occupations at increased risk
Certain groups may be at increased risk of suicide by virtue of their occupation. These include doctors (anesthetists and psychiatrists), nurses, dentists, veterinarians, pharmacists, armed forces and police, farmers. A seemingly disparate group, these groups all have one thing in common, namely their ready and daily access to particularly lethal means. Bar owners also represent a group at increased risk, probably by virtue of their ready access to alcohol.
Marital Status
Several studies have indicated that successful marriage protects against the risk of suicide especially men. The converse is also true, that divorced men and women are at increased risk of suicide. A recent study has also highlighted the protective factor of having children both for men and women, lessening the likelihood of suicidal acts, and also the intensity of suicidal acts should they occur.
Previous suicide attempt
40-60% of completed suicides have a history of at least one previous suicide attempt. As a result of this fact, much research has been conducted on suicide attempters. However, less than 10% of suicide attempters who survive their first attempt will eventually complete suicide. The research dilemma persists while extrapolating results from studying suicide attempters in that most of the suicide attempters being studied will never complete suicide. Therefore by exclusively studying suicide attempters, researchers are neglecting 50% of suicide completers, those who complete suicide at the first attempt.
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