Nordic countries have traditionally had fairly high suicide rates compared with other countries. Finland and Sweden are ranked 15th and 31st respectively on a global ranking of suicide rates (WHO, 2011). Each Country’s Government and various health organisations are actively recording suicide data in order to help reduce suicides. In recent decades, several researchers have suggested a link between increasing daily dosages of antidepressants and the falling rates of suicide (Lester, 1971).
Research also shows that there could be a link between suicide rates and the lack of bright light in winter. Around 10% of northern Europeans are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as the ‘winter blues’. SAD can make people feel more depressed in winter months or when sunlight hours are reduced.
This report analyses the distribution of suicides in both Finland and Sweden per month in order to judge the impacts of SAD, and will look at the link between suicides and antidepressant usage. Finland and Sweden have been chosen for this study as they have similar cultures, climate and lie on the same longitude meaning a more reliable comparison can be made.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Methodology, Results and Analysis
- Which month has the highest suicide rate in both Finland and Sweden and does this correlate to what we would expect based on hours of sunlight in the day?
- How has the suicide rate changed over the years in response to changes in antidepressant use?
- Is there a significant correlation between suicide rates and antidepressant dosage?
- Conclusion
- Further analysis and limitations
Objectives and Key Themes
This report examines the relationship between suicide rates, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and antidepressant usage in Finland and Sweden. It aims to determine the month with the highest suicide rate in both countries and compare this to the expected pattern based on sunlight hours. The report also explores the correlation between changes in antidepressant use and suicide rates over time, as well as the direct correlation between suicide rates and antidepressant dosages.
- Suicide rates in Finland and Sweden
- The role of SAD in suicide rates
- The relationship between antidepressant use and suicide rates
- Correlation between suicide rates and antidepressant dosages
- Comparison of findings between Finland, Sweden, and Chile
Chapter Summaries
The introduction provides an overview of suicide rates in Nordic countries, highlighting the high rates in Finland and Sweden. It introduces the study’s focus on analyzing the distribution of suicides in both countries per month to investigate the impacts of SAD and the link between suicides and antidepressant usage. The report aims to answer three key questions regarding Finland and Sweden: the month with the highest suicide rate, the impact of antidepressant use on suicide rates over time, and the correlation between suicide rates and antidepressant dosages.
The section titled "Methodology, Results and Analysis" presents data regarding suicide rates and antidepressant use in Finland and Sweden. The first sub-section examines the month with the highest suicide rate in both countries, comparing it to expected patterns based on sunlight hours. The second sub-section explores changes in suicide rates over time in relation to changes in antidepressant use. The final sub-section analyzes the correlation between suicide rates and antidepressant dosages. The report found that the highest suicide rates in both Finland and Sweden occur in May, contradicting the expected correlation with sunlight hours. The report also discovered that there is a strong negative correlation between increasing antidepressant dosages and declining suicide rates in both countries.
The conclusion summarizes the key findings, reiterating the similarities in suicide patterns between Finland and Sweden. It highlights the inconclusive link between sunlight hours and suicide risk and emphasizes the potential for further research to clarify this relationship. The conclusion also notes the strong correlation between increasing antidepressant dosages and declining suicide rates, suggesting that further investigation is needed to determine if this relationship is causal.
Keywords
The report focuses on suicide rates, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), antidepressant usage, Finland, Sweden, and Chile. It explores the relationship between these factors, particularly examining the correlation between antidepressant dosage and suicide rates. The report also analyzes the distribution of suicides per month, comparing findings to expected patterns based on sunlight hours.
- Quote paper
- Bob Sky (Author), 2012, A Study of Suicides in Finland and Sweden, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/211543
