The socioeconomic aetiology of suicide mortality

Large-scale socioeconomic changes are often associated with an increase of suicide rates. During the turbulent period of the socioeconomic transition, an epidemic outbreak of suicide mortality has been recorded in the post-Soviet Baltic countries - particularly, in Lithuania - and in Russia. The given study analyses the socioeconomic aetiology of suicide. The analytical approach is based on the main hypotheses suggested in the research literature for the explanation of suicide mortality epidemics: (1) the detrimental impact of psychosocial stress and (2) heavy binge drinking of alcohol. This approach involves an extrapolation of Selye's psycho-physiological stress model to the population level. Nonimpulsive suicide is understood as emanating from the Exhaustion phase of stress, when hopelessness and fatigue ensue, and the behaviour is characterised by passivity and "escape". The study included annual data (1990-2001) on suicide mortality (SDR) and its explanatory variables for 77 administrative areas of the Russian Federation. The data were mostly derived from official statistical sources (GOSKOMSTAT). Considerable efforts have been devoted to the identification of measurable mortality predictors, which include three main groups: (1) the core transition-related stressors, (2) coping strategies used by the population to overcome economic hardship and (3) aggregate-level stress moderators. A pooled cross-sectional time series analysis has been carried out. The "best fitting" model explains about 75 percent of the variation in mortality level across regions. Deficiency of coping resources (lacking economic activities) turned out to be the strongest predictor of suicide mortality. Suicide rates were statistically accounted for by the factors related to transition-related stressors hyperinflation, severe economic depression, etc. Heavy binge drinking was a significant, but not the leading mortality predictor. In conclusion, the study results support the idea that sustainable development is crucial for the prevention of stress-related mortality. Socioeconomic instability is detrimental for the demographic situation in Russia.