International journal of epidemiology
-
Historical Article
Suicide in England and Wales 1861-2007: a time-trends analysis.
Suicide is one of the leading causes of premature mortality worldwide. Few studies have assessed long-term trends or sex differences in its incidence over time. We have investigated the age-, sex- and method-specific trends in suicide in England and Wales from 1861 to 2007. ⋯ The epidemiology of suicide in England and Wales has changed markedly over the past 146 years. The rapid rise in gas suicide deaths in the 1920s highlights how quickly a new method of suicide can be established in a population when it is easily available. The increase in suicides during the Great Depression has implications in relation to the current economic crisis. Changes in the acceptability and lethality of various suicide methods may account for the large variations in sex ratios over time.
-
Comment Biography Historical Article
Commentary: In and out of asylums: mental health care of 19th century Scotland in the writings of Sir Arthur Mitchell, the Commissioner in Lunacy.