The effect of job loss and unemployment duration on suicide risk in the United States: a new look using mass‐layoffs and unemployment duration

Abstract

We examine the link between employment status and suicide risk using a panel of US states from 1996 to 2005 with monthly data on suicides, the duration of unemployment spells and the number of job losses associated with mass layoff events. The use of aggregate data at the monthly level along with the distribution of unemployment duration allows us to separate the effect of job loss from the effect of unemployment duration, an important distinction for policy purposes, especially for the timing of potential interventions. Our results are consistent with unemployment duration being the dominant force in the relationship between job loss and suicide. Nevertheless, mass layoffs may be powerful localized events where suicide risk increases shortly afterward. Implications for the design of unemployment insurance are discussed.

Geographic variation in male suicide rates in the United States

“…Within the United States, suicide rates exhibit a non-random geographic distribution with higher rates primarily in western states, which suggests local factors likely influence suicidal behavior. Research highlights the importance of localized effects when examining connections between suicide and unemployment (e.g., mass lay-offs) (Classen & Dunn, 2012), specific ethnic groups (e.g., Hispanic migrants) (Borges et al, 2009;Wadsworth & Kubrin, 2007), or social isolation (e.g., lack of religiosity) (Dervic et al, 2004;Pesosolido & Georgianna, 1989;Rasic, Kisley, & Langille, 2011). However, the majority of these studies examine relationships with suicide risk factors as global effects that are consistent across an area of study.…”

Overbelegg og faregrense for dødelighet

“…Previous studies have shown a strong link between adverse economic conditions and higher levels of suicide (Ceccherini-Nelli et al, 2011;Classen and Dunn, 2012;Zivin et al, 2011). Figure 1.6.2 shows suicide rates for a number of countries that have been hard hit by the recent economic crisis.…”

Z delom povezani dejavniki tveganja za samomorilno vedenje, varovalni dejavniki in možnosti preventivnega delovanja

“…Izguba zaposlitve lahko povzroči zmanjšanje občutka finančne varnosti in pomembno spremembo v posameznikovem življenju, oseba pa jo lahko doživlja kot sporočilo o lastnem neuspehu in nekompetentnosti, pri čemer se pojavijo občutki sramu ter negativne misli in čustva, vezana na izgubo službe. Drugi avtorji pa ugotavljajo, da je s povečanim tveganjem za samomorilno vedenje povezan daljši čas brezposelnosti (Classen in Dunn, 2012), kar naj bi bilo povezano z naraščanjem občutka brezupa z daljšanjem obdobja brezposelnosti (Milner, Page idr., 2013). Videti je torej, da sta tako sama izguba službe kot tudi daljše trajanje brezposelnosti dejavnika tveganja.…”