Abstract
Purpose and methods
The aim of this study was to investigate, with multiple regression analyses, the effect of selected characteristics on the rate of decrease of suicide rates in 21 OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) nations over the period 1990–2010, with initial levels of suicide rates taken into account.
Results
The rate of decrease seems mainly (83%) to be determined by the initial suicide rates in 1990. In nations with relatively high initial rates, the rates decreased faster. The suicide rates also converged.
Conclusion
The study indicates that beta convergence alone explained most of the cross-national variations.
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On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.
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This research was carried out at the Public Health Agency of Sweden. It received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
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Bremberg, S.G. Suicide rates in European OECD nations converged during the period 1990–2010. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 52, 559–562 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1367-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1367-z