Suicide rates around the world - anyone familiar why?

[cowcommander]

Anyone familiar with the individual countries listed here and the reasons why there would be such a high suicide rate? I can understand former communist countries having that problem, but why also Finland, Belgium, Sri Lanka, etc.?

[Poll_Blind]

1. In a few of those places murder may be reported as suicide to prevent unwanted attention.

Kazakhstan and maybe Guyana would be my bet. For the first 9 except for South Korea, those are some pretty hard places to live.

PB

[NaturalHigh]

5. Re: South Korea.

I saw a lot of poverty over there. IMO, it is also a pretty hard place to live.

[NaturalHigh]

2. This is only a guess...

From wikipedia..."At Finland's northernmost point, the sun does not set for 73 consecutive days during summer, and does not rise at all for 51 days during winter."

Don't conditions like that sometimes lead to depression?

[treestar]

3. Except for Sri Lanka and Guyana, many of these places are cold

and with long winters. SAD may come into play.

Guyana very strange - it is for 2008, so Jonestown wouldn't have anything to do with it.

[lunatica]

4. Depression is univesal

And not all countries keep track of reasons for death.

[FLPanhandle]

6. Weird how much higher the rate is for men vs. women...except in China

Do men have than many more mental issues?

[madmax]

8. I noticed that too. A lot higher than women.

And they call us the weaker sex.

Ok, you guys don't start! ;)

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. For several years, Chinese factory workers have been killing themselves

as a result of virtual slavery working conditions.
That MAY be a factor in the numbers.

[jody]

7. USA males 17.7, females 4.5. Probably much higher than those you cite because we acknowledge the

inalienable right to keep and bear arms for self-defense.

WAIT! The USA is not higher than those countries you cite. :shrug:

[Odin2005]

10. The former USSR is very messed up socially, thus the high suicide rates.

As for Scandinavia I have no clue.

[NutmegYankee]

11. Perhaps the location for Scandinavia?

Seasonal Affective Disorder may get to more people with the low amounts of sunlight in the winter.