The number of deaths by suicide increases with the unemployment rate and about 600 suicides could be attributed to the rise of unemployment in France between 2008 and 2010, according to a study published Tuesday, reports RFI.
“Between 2000 and 2010 in France, the unemployment rate is significantly and most probably associated to the suicide rate”, according to researchers of the national institute for health and medical research (Inserm).
When the unemployment rate increases by 10 percent, the suicide rate (the number of deaths by suicide in relation to the population) goes up by about 1.5 percent for the total population above 15 years old.
The link between unemployment and suicide seems more evident for the men between 25 and 49 years old. In this age group, a 10 percent increase of the unemployment rate goes along with a rise of 1.8 to 2.6 percent of the suicide rate.
But the researchers insist on the fact their study is based on statistics and observations and that “no causal link” between unemployment and suicide “can be deduced from these results”.