Nordic region suicide trends 2000–2018; sex and age groups

Abstract

Background and aim

Overall, suicide rates in the Nordic region, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, have declined in the past 40 years. The aim of this study was to determine trends in suicide mortality from 2000 to 2018.

Methods

Data were obtained from official suicide statistics for men and women, 15 years and older. Gender and age groups in four calendar periods were analyzed using Joinpoint Estimated Regression Coefficient.

Results

The crude regional suicide rate was 17.1, 2000–2004, decreased to 14.1 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2015–2018. Age-standardized rates are 13.6–11.3. The crude rate decreased by 19.5% (16.3% age-standardized), 19.3% for males and 20.5% for females. The largest decrease was found in Finland (34.9%), the smallest in Norway (1.4%). In males, the exception was an increased suicide rate among all Icelandic except 15–24-year olds, and in 45–64 year-old Norwegians. Among females, an increase was seen among 15–24-year olds in all countries except Iceland, in all age groups in Norway, and in 25–44-year olds in Sweden. In males, a decline of the suicide rated lower than 10% was noted in 25–44 olds in Norway and in 15–64 year-olds in Sweden.

Discussion

A robust decrease was observed in the overall regional suicide rate in recent years. Exceptions are rising rates in Icelandic males, in Norwegian females, and the youngest female groups in all except Iceland. The small decline among middle-aged males in Norway and Sweden is of concern.

Keywords:

• Nordic suicides trends
• gender
• age

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributors

Högni Oskarsson has been involved in suicide prevention for the past 20 years and is currently an adviser to the Directorate of Health in the field. In the field of psychiatry he has worked as a psychotherapist and as a coach for people in leadership positions. Furthermore, he was a team leader for ther clinical part of genomic research of anxiety, depression and addictive fisorders at Decode genetics.

Professor Lars Mehlum MD, PhD is the founding director of the National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention at the Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway. A psychiatrist and psychotherapist, he has had several leader positions both at the national and international level. He is a past president of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the current president elect of the International Academy of Suicide Research (IASR) and of the European Society for the Study of Personality Disorders (ESSPD).

David Titleman is associate professor of psychology and a psychoanalyst, affiliated with the National Center of Suicide Research and Prevention (NASP) at Karolinska Institutet since 1997 and has collaborated with epidemiologists in Scandinavia and Finland, suicide mortality in the Nordic region.

Annette Erlangsen has been dedicated to research on suicide prevention since 1999. Her main research focus has been population-based studies using register data in collaboration with international researcher. Her research interest furthermore cover: effectiveness of psychosocial therapy, means restriction, suicidal behaviour in older adults, bereaved by suicide, and affected by suicide attempt.

Merete Nordentoft is an expert in epidemiology, suicidal behavior, psychopathology and early intervention in psychosis. She heads a large research group at the Copenhagen Center for Mental Health of the significance of genetic and environmental factors have for schizophrenia, affective disorders and the interplay between a person’s hereditary genes and environment such as e.g. drug abuse or suicidal behaviour?

Ellenor Mittendorfer-Rutz is a professor of Insurance Medicine with research in the inherent complexity of the research area of Insurance Medicine by conducting interdisciplinary and translational research i.e. spanning from etiologic, prognostic to intervention and treatment research.

Sebastian Hökby is a doctoral student, research assistant, and case worker at the National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention (NASP), where he is involved in several research-related activities.

Helgi Tomasson is a professor of economics at the University of Iceland with a particular emphasis on statistics.

Sigurður Páll Pálsson is the chief of service of the Forensic clinic at the University Hospital of Iceland. He has been involved in suicide rersearch and prevention troughout his professional life.

Data availability statement

Data on death by suicide, age, gender and year of death, were obtained from official national population registers in each country. Privacy protection.is absolute.