Suicide mortality trends in the Nordic countries 1980–2009

Abstract

Background and aim: The Nordic countries provide a suitable setting for comparing trends in suicide mortality. The aim of this report is to compare suicide trends by age, gender, region and methods in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden 1980–2009. Methods: Suicide statistics 1980–2009 were analyzed for men and women aged 15 years and above and the age group 15–24 years. Regional suicide rates in 2009 were presented in maps. Results: The suicide rates across the Nordic countries declined from 25–50 per 100,000 in 1980 to 20–36 in 2009 for men and from 9–26 in 1980 to 8–11 in 2009 for women. The rates in Finland were consistently higher than those of the other countries. A significant increase of suicides in young women in Finland and Norway and a lack of a decline among young women in Sweden were noted. The male– female ratio of suicide converged to approximately 3:1 across the region during the study period. Rural areas in Finland, Norway and Sweden saw the highest suicide rates, whereas the rates in the capital regions of Denmark, Norway and Sweden were lower than the respective national rates. Conclusions: We hold that the overall decline of suicide rates in the Nordic countries reflects the socio-economic development and stability of the region, including the well-functioning healthcare. The increasing rates in Finland and Norway and the unchanged rate in Sweden of suicide in young women are an alarming trend break that calls for continued monitoring.

• Nordic countries
• Social factors
• Suicide
• Suicide in the young
• Young women

Acknowledgements—This study was initiated in discussions of the Nordic Consortium for Suicide Prevention, in which all of the collaborating centers and university departments are active. During 2010–2012, the consortium meetings were coordinated with the activities of a Nordic research network focusing on the theme “Mental health and evidence: linking research to practice”. The network was conjointly led by Danuta Wasserman, NASP, and Lars Fredén, the Nordic School for Public Health in Gothenburg, and supported by a grant from NordForsk.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.