Is There a Link Between Economic Factors and Suicide?

Key points

There's a strong correlation between economic factors, particularly unemployment, and suicide.

In national crises, people experience increased social connectedness and a reduced risk of suicide.

When it comes to suicide , there’s a strong correlation between economic factors, particularly unemployment, and the number of people who kill themselves. Untreated mental illness, an aging population, the proliferation of firearms, substance abuse , and other factors are significant, but none to the same extent.

With policy changes, it’s possible to argue that suicides may increase in the next few years. Individuals are losing their health care because of Medicaid cuts, losing food stamps because nutrition assistance is disappearing, losing the benefit of school meals for chil