Suicide in the Major Western Countries 2000–2002: The Violent Deaths of September 11, 2001

Abstract

Following the September 11th 2001 atrocity, Western Government policies focused more on ‘defense,’ which undermines Government's commitment to reducing suicide. Annual US and major Western countries suicides were compared with ‘9/11’ deaths to highlight the extent of mortality associated with mental disorder, homicide and road deaths are reviewed for contrast. The 3,074 fatalities of 9/11 are set against the US three year annual average 29,691 suicides, 17,077 homicides and 47,775 road deaths, thus every two weeks more US citizens died violently than on 9/11. In the majority of countries, there were more suicides than 9/11 victims, with suicides exceeding the 9/11 atrocity 18 times in Russia, nine in Japan and the US and three times in France and Germany. Annual suicides compared with terrorist violence should inform policy.

Keywords:

• perception
• policy
• suicide
• terrorist deaths

Notes

∗All average of 2000–02 unless noted differently [1998–2000].

Last year 2000∗

2001∗∗