Utjecaj ekonomske krize na stopu samoubojstava na području Bjelovarsko-bilogorske županije
The Impact of the Economic Crisis on the Suicide Rate in the Bjelovar-Bilogora County

Summary/Abstract: The World Health Organization categorises suicide as one of the leading health-related problems today. Epidemiological suicide analyses facilitate risk factor identification and prevention programme development. This paper analyses suicide rates in the area of the Bjelovar-Bilogora County in the recession period 1998–1999 and during the current economic crisis that began towards the end of 2008. Suicide-related data were gathered by consulting the database of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, while the periods of crisis were defined according to the publicly available data. Contrary to what would be expected, the suicide rates in the two recession periods were lower in relation to other periods. In the course of the current economic crisis, the suicide rate has been the lowest in the last twenty years. Economic crises alter both individual and collective conscience only when they lead to social-economic deprivation ending in family cohesion and emotional balance disorders, and the loss of social support. An increase in the occurrence of crisis- and depression-related disorders is expected soon. The co-action of the said factors, together with biological predisposition, results in an increased risk of suicidal behaviour in risk groups; therefore, it is important to intervene in this direction early (now) by implementing prevention programmes.

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