Suicide rates in Europe 'linked' to financial crisis

 　　The financial crisis¹ "almost certainly" led to an increase in suicides³ across Europe, health experts say.

　　The analysis by US and UK researchers found a rise in suicides was recorded among working age people from 2007 to 2009 in nine of the 10 nations studied.

　　The increases varied⁴ between 5% and 17% for under 65s after a period of falling suicide² rates, The Lancet reported.

　　Researchers said investment in welfare systems was the key to keeping rates down.

　　In particular, they argued supporting people back into work or having programmes to stop them losing their jobs in the first place was more important than giving them benefits.

　　The team used World Health Organization data to compare rates in the 10 countries, including the UK.

　　'Complete turnaround'

　　During the period, there was a rise in unemployment by a third.

　　Only Austria saw suicide rates fall. This was put down to the country being less exposed to the financial crisis than the others.

　　Of the risers, Finland fared best while Greece had the worst record. The UK saw a rise of 10% to 6.75 suicides per 100,000 people.

　　Dr David Stuckler, one of the researchers, said: "There was a complete turnaround. Suicides were falling before the recession⁵, then started rising in nearly all European countries studied. Almost certainly these rises are linked to the financial crisis."

　　And he added it was also possible there would be other health consequences from the economic problems as the impact on heart disease and cancer rates was not likely to be seen for many years.

　　'Major risk factors'

　　However, the researchers also found that road deaths fell during the period - a trend which was put down to the falls in vehicle use that tend to be seen during difficult economic times.

　　The report comes after a BBC investigation⁶ earlier this year found there had been a rise in anti-depressant prescribing during the financial crisis.

　　Prescriptions⁷ for drugs such as Prozac rose by more than 40% over the past four years with GPs saying more and more people were coming to them with money worries.

　　Andy Bell, deputy⁸ chief executive⁹ of the Centre for Mental Health, said: "We know that unemployment and the fear of unemployment are major risk factors for poor mental health.

　　"This research shows how important it is that we treat the mental health of people who are not just out of work but also in work but fear losing their jobs as a major public health issue".

1 crisis   

n.危机，危急关头，决定性时刻，关键阶段

参考例句：

• He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明，在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
• The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。

2 suicide   

n.自杀，自毁，自杀性行为

参考例句：

• The number of suicide has increased.自杀案件的数量增加了。
• The death was adjudged a suicide by sleeping pills.该死亡事件被判定为服用安眠药自杀。

3 suicides   

n.自杀( suicide的名词复数 )；自取灭亡；自杀者；自杀性行为

参考例句：

• Since when do suicides miss twice, lay down a rug and start over? 自杀什么时候会失手二次后铺好地毯然后再试一次？ 来自电影对白
• Chris: And the reality is suicides go to hell? 克里斯：而现实就是自杀者要下地狱？ 来自互联网

4 varied   

adj.多样的，多变化的

参考例句：

• The forms of art are many and varied.艺术的形式是多种多样的。
• The hotel has a varied programme of nightly entertainment.宾馆有各种晚间娱乐活动。

5 recession   

n.（工商业的）衷退（期），萧条（期）

参考例句：

• Manufacturing fell sharply under the impact of the recession.受到经济萧条的影响，制造业急剧衰退。
• A rise in interest rates plunged Britain deeper into recession.利率的提高导致英国经济更加萧条。

6 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

7 prescriptions   

药( prescription的名词复数 )； 处方； 开处方； 计划

参考例句：

• The hospital of traditional Chinese medicine installed a computer to fill prescriptions. 中医医院装上了电子计算机来抓药。
• Her main job was filling the doctor's prescriptions. 她的主要工作就是给大夫开的药方配药。

8 deputy   

n.代理人，代表，副职；adj.代理的，副的

参考例句：

• John will act as a deputy for me during my absence.我离开期间，约翰将代理我的职务。
• She is the deputy headmistress of the school.她是那所学校的代理校长。

9 executive   

adj.执行的，行政的；n.执行者，行政官，经理

参考例句：

• A good executive usually gets on well with people.一个好的高级管理人员通常与人们相处得很好。
• He is a man of great executive ability.他是个具有极高管理能力的人。