A man in Athens in September, 2011. (Photo: Mehran Khalili/flickr/cc)
Feb 03, 2015
Austerity measures imposed on Greece in 2011 corresponded to a significant spike in suicides, health researchers have found.
For their study published Monday in the online journal BMJ Open, U.S., Scottish and Greek researchers used national data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority to look at suicide occurrences from 1983 through 2012.
During that 30-year time period, 11,505 suicides took place, and 2012 had the highest months of suicide.
The researchers found that June 2011, when a second round of austerity measures rolled out, "marked the beginning of significant, abrupt and sustained increases in total suicide." Total suicides rose by 36 percent, while male suicides rose by 19 percent.
"Suicides by women in Greece also underwent an abrupt and sustained increase in May 2011 following austerity-related events," spiking nearly 36 percent, the study also found, noting that this runs contrary to previous research that has not shown increases in female suicides as a result of economic downturns.
In addition, when the Greek recession began in October 2008, the number of suicides by men spiked 13.1%. Conversely, the study found that a time of economic prosperity in January 2002 when the euro launched corresponded to a 27 percent decrease in suicide.
"The sustained and statistically significant nature of the October 2008 and June 2011 increases for male suicides in Greece reveals the systemic and lasting effect that large government austerity programs can have on national economic stability and public health," the study states.
"As future austerity measures are considered, greater weight should be given to unintended health consequences of these measures," the researchers write, adding: "Greater attention should also be paid to the public reporting of austerity measures and any subsequent suicide-related events that may follow."
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Austerity measures imposed on Greece in 2011 corresponded to a significant spike in suicides, health researchers have found.
For their study published Monday in the online journal BMJ Open, U.S., Scottish and Greek researchers used national data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority to look at suicide occurrences from 1983 through 2012.
During that 30-year time period, 11,505 suicides took place, and 2012 had the highest months of suicide.
The researchers found that June 2011, when a second round of austerity measures rolled out, "marked the beginning of significant, abrupt and sustained increases in total suicide." Total suicides rose by 36 percent, while male suicides rose by 19 percent.
"Suicides by women in Greece also underwent an abrupt and sustained increase in May 2011 following austerity-related events," spiking nearly 36 percent, the study also found, noting that this runs contrary to previous research that has not shown increases in female suicides as a result of economic downturns.
In addition, when the Greek recession began in October 2008, the number of suicides by men spiked 13.1%. Conversely, the study found that a time of economic prosperity in January 2002 when the euro launched corresponded to a 27 percent decrease in suicide.
"The sustained and statistically significant nature of the October 2008 and June 2011 increases for male suicides in Greece reveals the systemic and lasting effect that large government austerity programs can have on national economic stability and public health," the study states.
"As future austerity measures are considered, greater weight should be given to unintended health consequences of these measures," the researchers write, adding: "Greater attention should also be paid to the public reporting of austerity measures and any subsequent suicide-related events that may follow."
Austerity measures imposed on Greece in 2011 corresponded to a significant spike in suicides, health researchers have found.
For their study published Monday in the online journal BMJ Open, U.S., Scottish and Greek researchers used national data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority to look at suicide occurrences from 1983 through 2012.
During that 30-year time period, 11,505 suicides took place, and 2012 had the highest months of suicide.
The researchers found that June 2011, when a second round of austerity measures rolled out, "marked the beginning of significant, abrupt and sustained increases in total suicide." Total suicides rose by 36 percent, while male suicides rose by 19 percent.
"Suicides by women in Greece also underwent an abrupt and sustained increase in May 2011 following austerity-related events," spiking nearly 36 percent, the study also found, noting that this runs contrary to previous research that has not shown increases in female suicides as a result of economic downturns.
In addition, when the Greek recession began in October 2008, the number of suicides by men spiked 13.1%. Conversely, the study found that a time of economic prosperity in January 2002 when the euro launched corresponded to a 27 percent decrease in suicide.
"The sustained and statistically significant nature of the October 2008 and June 2011 increases for male suicides in Greece reveals the systemic and lasting effect that large government austerity programs can have on national economic stability and public health," the study states.
"As future austerity measures are considered, greater weight should be given to unintended health consequences of these measures," the researchers write, adding: "Greater attention should also be paid to the public reporting of austerity measures and any subsequent suicide-related events that may follow."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.