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Unemployment-Related Suicides in North Carolina, 2004-2010

Unemployment-Related Suicides in North Carolina, 2004-2010. Annie Hirsch, MPH North Carolina Division of Public Health CSTE Annual Conference June 11, 2013. Objectives. Identify characteristics of unemployment-related suicide decedents

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Unemployment-Related Suicides in North Carolina, 2004-2010

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  1. Unemployment-Related Suicides in North Carolina, 2004-2010 Annie Hirsch, MPH North Carolina Division of Public Health CSTE Annual Conference June 11, 2013

  2. Objectives • Identify characteristics of unemployment-related suicide decedents • Determine if unemployment-related suicide rate increased along with unemployment rate • Examine differences between unemployment-related suicides and all other suicides

  3. Background North Carolina Violent Death Reporting System (NC-VDRS) • Statewide surveillance system • Collects data on all violent deaths that occur in North Carolina • Multi-source; captures circumstances that contributed to each death • One of the precipitating circumstances captured by the NC-VDRS is “job problem”

  4. North Carolina Unemployment Rate • N.C. unemployment rate increased sharply in recent years, peaking at 11.4% in early 2010 Data source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

  5. Hypothesis • Unemployment is one of many factors that can contribute to suicide • We hypothesized that the rate of unemployment-related suicides would increase during the economic recession

  6. Methods • Descriptive study • NC-VDRS used to identify all suicides from 2004-2010 among N.C. residents for which ‘job problem’ was a precipitating circumstance

  7. Methods, Continued • Details about job problem abstracted from medical examiner and law enforcement narratives to identify suicides related to unemployment • Industry in which decedent usually worked identified from death certificate data • Demographic information and frequency of precipitating circumstances calculated using SAS 9.3

  8. Case Selection All suicides of N.C. residents, 2004-2010 N = 7,702 Circumstance information available N = 7,118 No circumstance information available N = 584 Job problem reported N = 575 No job problem reported N = 6,543 Problem related to current job N = 178 Problem related to job loss/ unemployment N = 397

  9. Results Objective 1: Identify characteristics of unemployment-related suicide decedents

  10. Demographic Characteristics • From 2004-2010, the NC-VDRS identified 397 suicides for which unemployment was a precipitating circumstance • 85% of decedents were male • 90% were white • Ranged in age from 19 to 72

  11. Age Distribution of Persons who Died inUnemployment-Related Suicides, 2004-2010

  12. Employment Information • For 61% of decedents, a job loss was a precipitating factor in their death, while the inability to find a job was a factor for 19%

  13. Employment Information • The most common industries in which the decedents usually worked before becoming unemployed were construction (13%)and manufacturing (12%)

  14. Circumstance Information • Many decedents had other contributing circumstances in addition to unemployment:

  15. Example Narratives for Unemployment-Related Suicides • Job loss + breakup/divorce • The victim had recently lost his job and was currently depressed over the job loss and a breakup with a girlfriend. (Male, Age 21) • The victim was reportedly depressed because he had lost his job several months before. His wife then left him after he lost his job and moved in with her parents. (Male, Age 53)

  16. Example Narratives for Unemployment-Related Suicides, Continued • Job loss + breakup/divorce + home loss/eviction • The victim was currently separating from his wife, who had taken their daughter to another state. In the past year, he had lost his business, lost his home, and his mother died. (Male, Age 37) • The victim had recently been divorced, lost his job, and was about to be evicted from his home. (Male, Age 49)

  17. Example Narratives for Unemployment-Related Suicides, Continued • Job loss + health problem • Victim’s depression increased after losing her job and health insurance. She was very concerned due to major physical health problems that required frequent medical visits and medication. (Female, Age 40)

  18. Urban vs. Rural County of Residence • Higher rate per 100,000 among residents of urban counties (counties with at least 250 residents per square mile)

  19. Rate of Unemployment-Related Suicides by Economic Development Regions North Carolina, 2004-2010 Statewide unemployment-related suicide rate was 8.4 deaths per million residents ages 19+

  20. Results, Continued Objective 2. Determine if the rate of unemployment-related suicides increased along with the unemployment rate

  21. North Carolina Unemployment Rate • N.C. unemployment rate increased sharply in recent years, peaking at 11.4% in early 2010 Data source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

  22. Unemployment-related Suicides by Year • Unemployment contributed to 6.5% of suicides in 2010, up from 4.4% in 2004

  23. Number of Unemployed Suicide Decedents and Number of Unemployment-related Suicides by Year

  24. Suicide Rate and Unemployment-related Suicide Rate by Year

  25. Results, Continued Objective 3: Examine differences between unemployment-related suicides and all other suicides

  26. Characteristics of N.C. Residents Who Died By Suicide, 2004-2010

  27. Mental Health History for N.C. Residents Who Died By Suicide, 2004-2010

  28. Summary • Majority of unemployment-related suicide decedents were white, middle-aged males with multiple contributing circumstances • Rate of unemployment-related suicides increased slightly during economic recession • Unemployment-related suicide decedents more likely to be male and have current depressed mood and less likely to be veterans, but otherwise did not differ significantly from all other suicide decedents

  29. Discussion • Why did unemployment-related suicide rate increase only slightly as unemployment rate rose dramatically? • Possible explanations: • Unemployment became more socially acceptable during recession • Time delay (greater increase will be seen in 2011) • Other ideas?

  30. Suicide Prevention Resources • SPRC has produced new information sheets to help managers and co-workers recognize and respond to people who may be at risk for suicide • Information sheets include lists of relevant resource materials and organizations • www.sprc.org/basics/roles-suicide-prevention

  31. Suicide Prevention Resources

  32. Acknowledgments • Co-authors from N.C. Division of Public Health: • Scott Proescholdbell • Tammy Norwood • Jane Ann Miller • Sherry Lehman • CDC/CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellowship

  33. Questions?Annie HirschNorth Carolina Division of Public Healthannie.hirsch@dhhs.nc.gov(919) 707-5902

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