Suicides rose by 10 per cent in the UK
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The increase in number of suicide cases is ‘almost certainly’ linked to the financial crisis, health experts have said
A study, carried out by researchers in the USA and UK, found that the number of suicides increased between five per cent and 17 per cent among working people from 2007 to 2009 in nine of the 10 nations studies.
The study noted that before 2007, the number of suicides had been falling.
It was found that between 2007 and 2009, only Austria saw suicide rates fall. This was put down to the country being less exposed to the financial crisis.
Of the nations that saw a rise, Greece had the worst report. The UK saw a rise of 10 per cent.
Dr David Stuckler, one of the researchers, said, ‘There was a complete turnaround. Suicides were falling before the recession, then started rising in nearly all European countries studied. Almost certainly these rises are linked to the financial crisis.’
GPs also noted that there was an increase in people being subscribed with Prozac by up to 40 per cent as people complained of money worries.
The researchers said that investment in welfare systems was key to keeping the number of suicides down, with a particular focus on helping people back into work or having programmes in place to stop them losing their job in the first place.
By Lauren King
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