Explaining suicide (OECD)

The socio-economic determinants of suicide rates might be different across regions of the world. In a recent study by Okada & Samreth published in the JSE (August 2013) the authors find that the divorce rate affects the suicide rate positively and that increases in GDP per capita reduce the suicide rate. 

From the conclusions: 

Our estimation results provide strong evidence that divorce rates and per capita real GDP have significantly increasing and reducing impacts on suicide, respectively, since their effects are confirmed in nine out of 13 selected countries. For fertility rates, the results show that its increase leads to a decrease in suicide rates in four countries and a rise in suicide rates in one country. As for per capita alcohol consumption, we obtain evidence supporting its significantly increasing effects only in three countries.

A draft is here. 

In Italy a higher amount of suicides has been linked to the recent economic recession. 

Macroeconomics and suicide

A new study [early 2012], published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, evaluates the economic conditions and suicide rates in New York City over the last 3 decades. The authors evaluated levels of economic activity and the volatility of the New York Stock Exchange, as well as all suicides among New York City residents, between 1990 and 2006. Overall, during the study period, there were nearly 8100 suicides. The rate of suicide declined from 8.1 per 100,000 residents in 1990 to 4.8 per 100,000 in 1999; it remained relatively stable through 2006. 

There was a negative association between economic activity and rates of suicide, and suicides were highest when economic activity was at its lowest. Suicide rates varied according to gender, age, race, and sociodemographic status, and most of the association with economic activity was attributed to suicides of older, white males. This group accounted for more suicides during economic downturns than other demographic groups. Stock market volatility was not associated with changes in suicide rates, but, the authors report that this may be due to the small sample size of people invested in the stock market.

Source.