Press Release: Samaritans and the economic climate
The deepening financial and economic crises could lead to an
increase in suicide rates as people face unemployment, mounting
debt and housing insecurity. The information below can help
journalists, health professionals, companies, government and
members of the public support family, friends, colleagues and
patients in these troubled times.
1) If the country is going into recession what will the impact
be on people’s mental and emotional health?
Research shows that economic cycles give a clear indication of
suicide trends, and recessions have been shown to be accompanied by
an increase in suicide rates (1).
This is not only because more people become unemployed and are
therefore more psychologically vulnerable, but also because those
in employment feel threatened too. The fear of losing one’s job or
pressures caused by a downturn in business, demotion and pension
plan cutbacks can be bad for mental health and therefore increase
suicide risk.
1. Stack, S., Work
and the Economy, in Comprehensive Textbook of Suicidology, R.W.
Maris, A.L. Berman, and M.M. Silverman, Editors. 2000, The
Guildford Press: New York. p. 193-221.
2) Does Samaritans think that there is going to be an increase
in suicides as a result of the current financial climate?
Yes, there is an increased risk of suicides. Falling stock
prices, increased bankruptcies and housing insecurities (including
evictions, anticipated loss of a home (2) and higher interest rates
(3)) are all associated with increased suicide risk. Studies also
show that being in debt is associated with mental health problems
and suicidal thoughts and may contribute to someone actually taking
their own lives (4).
Research shows too that people who are unemployed are two-three
times more likely to die by suicide than people in employment (5),
with unemployed men more at risk than unemployed women (6).
Unemployment can result in poorer mental health, such as anxiety
and depression, lowered self-esteem and feelings of hopelessness –
all of which increase the likelihood that someone will think that
life is not worth living.
2. Viren, M.,
Suicide and business cycles: new empirical evidence. Applied
Economics Letters, 2005. 12: p. 887-892.
3.Berk, M., S.
Dodd, and M. Henry, The effect of macroeconomic variables on
suicide. Psychological Medicine, 2006. 36 (2): p. 181-189.
4.Stack, S. and I.
Wasserman, Economic strain and suicide risk: A qualitative
analysis. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 2007. 37(1): p.
103-112.
5. Platt, S.,
Suicide and Work, in Suicide in Specific Populations. 2003,
Psychiatry. Copyright 2003 The Medicine Publishing Company. P.
25-28.
6. Platt, S. and K.
Hawton, Suicidal Behaviour and the Labour Market, in The
International Handbook of Suicide and Attempted Suicide, K. Hawton
and K. van Heeringen, Editors. 2000, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd:
Chichester, West Sussex. p. 309-384.
3) How can Samaritans help?
Whilst the current climate means that there is an increased
risk of suicides, this need not be inevitable. Samaritans is urging
anyone with financial or work worries, or debt concerns, to seek
support rather than letting problems get out of control. Samaritans
is a confidential emotional support service available 24:7 for
anyone in any type of distress or despair. For specific financial
advice, people should contact a financial support service such as
the Citizens Advice Bureau.
A recent survey of 462 people who contacted Samaritans shows
that 74 per cent of suicidal people felt that getting in touch with
the service helped them take a decision not to end their own lives
and 70 per cent of people felt that speaking to a Samaritans
volunteer helped them cope with the problems they were facing
(7).
7. Samaritans
Emotional Support Services: Results of a Website Survey 2007
Sadly I am
hearing about more and more people whose severe debts are making
them feel suicidal. Home owners are distressed by falling
house prices and others simply can’t cope with ever-increasing
financial burdens following job loss, pay cuts or overtime
freezes.
“Yet, no matter how bad being in debt feels, there is always a path
through. It mightn’t be quick or easy, but I’ve never heard of a
debt problem that doesn’t have a solution. Those with crisis debts
should make appointments with organisations such as the Citizens
Advice Bureau, the Consumer Credit Counselling service (CCCS) or
the National Debt Line. That alone may help you sleep better at
night. Yet sadly for some it will have got just too much, so
Samaritans is more important than ever this Christmas and is there
day and night for emotional support.”
Martin Lewis, Founder of moneysavingexpert.com and Samaritans’
supporter
4) Is there generally a rise in suicides at Christmas
regardless of the credit crunch?
Suicide increases directly after the Christmas period with a
peak in suicides on New Year’s Day. (7a) High expectations for the
New Year, and a sense of anticlimax and despair when problems do
not disappear overnight, increase the potential for stress and
anxiety in the January 'hangover period' after the celebrations.
Many people will feel without hope at the beginning of a new year
and this can lead to suicidal thoughts and feelings of despair.
7a) Bergen, H. and
Hawton, K, Variation in deliberate self-harm around Christmas and
New Year. Social Science & Medicine 65 (2007) p.
855–867.
5) Which groups of people are at increased risk of suicide in
these times of economic uncertainty?
The people most at risk of suicide at this time are those who
are experiencing financial problems – either people who were
already suffering from poverty prior to the credit crunch and are
now struggling further with rising costs of living, those who have
recently lost their jobs or who have been unemployed for some time,
those who are affected by a downturn in business, those who
are in low-status occupations and those with existing mental health
problems. (8).
People who depend on clients for their livelihood are also at
risk (9) as well as people in single-person households, those
experiencing relationship breakdowns, or those who are isolated and
without strong social networks (10).
8. Stack, S., Work
and the Economy, in Comprehensive Textbook of Suicidology, R.W.
Maris, A.L. Berman, and M.M. Silverman, Editors. 2000, The
Guildford Press: New York. p. 193-221.
9. Stack, S., Work
and the Economy, in Comprehensive Textbook of Suicidology, R.W.
Maris, A.L. Berman, and M.M. Silverman, Editors. 2000, The
Guildford Press: New York. p. 193-221.
10. Evans, J., N.
Middletone, and D. Gunnell, Social fragmentation, severe mental
illness and suicide. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric
Epidemiology, 2004. 39(3): p. 165-170.
6) Is suicide still such a big problem? Aren’t suicide rates
decreasing?
The trend in suicide rates is downward in England, Scotland and
the Republic of Ireland but not in Wales and Northern Ireland.
However, there are still nearly 6,000 suicides a year across the UK
and Republic of Ireland (11). Even one death is too many, carrying
a huge cost for society, with devastating emotional effects for
family and friends left behind, that last for many years.
The World Health Organisation estimates that around one million
people worldwide die by suicide every year. For every person who
does take their own life there are about 20 more people who make an
attempt (12).
Suicide is a leading cause of death in young people in the UK
and ranks among the three leading causes of death in those aged
15-44 internationally (13). It is predicted that, by 2030,
self-inflicted injuries will rise to become the 12th leading cause
of death across all age groups around the world (14).
11. Office for
National Statistics
12. WHO.
http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suicideprevent/en/
World Health Organisation [cited 2008 November].
13. WHO.
http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suicideprevent/en/
World Health Organisation [cited 2008 November].
14. Mathers, C.D.
and D. Loncar, Projections of Global Mortality and Burden of
Disease from 2002 to 2030. PLoS Medicine 2006. 3(11): p. e442
doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0030442.
7) What can the effects of redundancy be?
A negative life change such as redundancy comes with a whole
raft of implications. There are the obvious knock-on effects
financially but there can also be feelings of low self-esteem and
guilt at what someone perceives as their failure to provide for
their family.
Such a lot of time is spent at work that it can become part of
our identities. When that is taken away it can shake people more
than they thought it would. There may also be feelings of guilt for
those who do not get made redundant. People may lose colleagues who
are friends or simply feel very sad at what is happening around
them so it’s important not to forget those who are left in the
workplace.
8) Will there be more marriage/ relationship breakdowns as a
result of the financial crisis?
Financial insecurity and uncertainty about the future may place
relationships under greater pressure and this in turn may create
more distress. Financial difficulty can contribute to the breakdown
of even the strongest relationships with friends and family. Those
who are under economic strain may experience more marital/
relationship problems than usual and may rely more heavily on
alcohol and drugs as a coping mechanism. It is well established
that excessive alcohol consumption and drug misuse can increase
suicide risk. (15).
15.Stack, S., Work
and the Economy, in Comprehensive Textbook of Suicidology, R.W.
Maris, A.L. Berman, and M.M. Silverman, Editors. 2000, The
Guildford Press: New York. p. 193-221.
9) How will families as a whole be affected?
The effects of unemployment can reach beyond the individual.
Family members of someone who is out of work can be at increased
risk of suicide because of financial hardship or relationship
strain as a result of the loss of employment of their relative
(16). Even if family members are employed the fear of losing one’s
job and pressures caused by a downturn in business, demotion or
pension plan cutbacks can be bad for their mental health and
increase suicide risk, therefore placing extra strain upon the
family unit.
16. Stack, S., Work
and the Economy, in Comprehensive Textbook of Suicidology, R.W.
Maris, A.L. Berman, and M.M. Silverman, Editors. 2000, The
Guildford Press: New York. p. 193-221.
10) What kind of work issues are exacerbating pressures for
people?
A number of work related factors can contribute to individuals’
emotional pressure and enhance suicidal feelings. Unemployment,
demotion, anticipated loss of a job, pension plan cutbacks, sales
declines in a small business and people being forced to take pay
cuts have all been found to be contributory factors to people being
at increased risk of suicide (17).
17. Stack, S. and
I. Wasserman, Economic strain and suicide risk: A qualitative
analysis. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 2007. 37(1): p.
103-112.
11) What support is available for people?
In times of financial crisis Samaritans is more important than
ever. We support people with financial problems by listening in
confidence and giving a safe arena to discuss thoughts, feelings
and problems, without fear of being judged, in order to help people
alleviate feelings of distress and despair – including those which
may lead to suicide.
Samaritans doesn’t offer advice to people with financial or debt
problems but we do discuss options with people who contact us.
Samaritans believes that, given the time and space to work problems
or difficulties through in confidence, people can develop an inner
strength and perspective to find their own way forward.
12) How can people safeguard their mental and emotional health
in these times of economic uncertainty?
Samaritans is encouraging people to actively seek help if they
feel debt and financial worries are becoming a problem and starting
to feel insurmountable. People should talk to their GPs if they
feel they are not coping or contact Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90
for round-the-clock confidential emotional support if they feel
they can’t share problems with family, friends, colleagues or their
GP.
13) Are there things that people can look out for that might
indicate family, friends and colleagues are not coping and in need
of extra support?
Signs to look out for include someone:
- Being withdrawn or unsociable
- Being low-spirited or depressed
- Drinking alcohol excessively or becoming dependent on
drugs
- Finding it difficult to relate to others
- Taking less care of themself
- Acting out of character
- Being tearful or constantly fighting back tears
- Being excessively irritable
- Finding it hard to concentrate
- Feeling less energetic or particularly tired
- Eating much less or much more than usual
- Putting themself down (self-mockingly as well as seriously),
e.g. “Nobody loves me” or “I’m a waste of space”.
14) Is the Government looking at improving access to mental
health services as a result of the financial crisis?
The Government may need to spend more money on the resources
allocated to mental health during this time of economic difficulty.
Samaritans is calling for ministers to ensure that local health
services are aware of the impact that financial problems may have
on people's mental health and to ask them to refer people to
appropriate support services like Samaritans. In these troubled
times we need a responsive and supportive Government which makes
suicide prevention a high priority.
15) Will the impact of the financial crisis on mental health be
included in national suicide prevention strategies now or in the
future?
It has been recognised that the current economic downturn may
affect suicide reduction targets for England. Samaritans wants to
raise awareness of groups that may be at increased risk of mental
health issues and suicide, so that GPs and other key workers can
refer people to services such as Samaritans.
Samaritans provides expert input into all suicide prevention
strategy development groups – such as the recent Welsh suicide
prevention strategy – to ensure that there is a high level of
investment in mental health services for people in distress. We are
also working with government to make sure that future suicide
prevention policies are developed that allow flexibility should a
major crisis of this or any sort occur.
16) How many people contact Samaritans about financial
issues?
Samaritans receives 2.8 million contacts a year by phone, email,
letter and face-to-face. Research undertaken by the charity shows
one in ten (about 280,000) contacts concerns financial issues, with
41% of contacts who raise financial issues worried about
employment, 32% concerned about housing and 25% anxious about debt
(18).
18. Samaritans’
Branch Survey on the economic crisis. November 2008
17) Do you refer people on to support services particularly
geared towards debt?
Samaritans’ volunteers will give people contact details of
relevant organisations that could offer direct advice such as the
Citizens Advice Bureau.
Samaritans also operates a third party referral system whereby
people can contact the charity if they are worried about someone
else. When a caller expresses concern that a third party is in
distress or despair, but is unlikely to contact Samaritans, the
volunteer will ask to be given contact details so they can arrange
to call and offer emotional support.
18) Have Samaritans’ calls and emails gone up?
A number of our 201 branches have experienced an increase in
calls in the months leading up to Christmas 2008. Some branches
have given anecdotal evidence to suggest that this is as a direct
result of the current economic climate. Contacts to Samaritans have
been steadily increasing for the past five years..
19) What kind of issues are people contacting you about at this
time?
People have been contacting us about job loss and redundancy
worries, debt problems and housing insecurities. It is not new for
us to offer emotional support in this area as we have received
calls about debt and financial worries throughout the 55 years that
we have been in operation.
20) What can managers do to support colleagues under increased
pressure at work and at risk of redundancy?
Managers should recognise that it takes courage for an employee
to approach them to talk about issues that are causing them to feel
anxious. They should have the skills and confidence to acknowledge
the difficult circumstances and feelings an employee may be
experiencing rather than make an immediate referral to HR (which
can appear like a rejection if done too soon). Being listened to
and feeling understood can significantly reduce feelings of
anxiety. The most significant sign for an employer to look for is a
change in behaviour (see question 13).
21) Will people with mental health issues be the first to go if
employers need to make job cuts?
Employers have legal responsibilities to treat people with
mental health problems fairly and indiscriminately and we would
hope that UK employers would be mindful of this. Raising awareness
of mental health issues in the workplace and encouraging managers
to support their staff by acknowledging any difficulties a
colleague or employee may be experiencing can be incredibly helpful
in minimising mental health issues.
Find out
more about Samaritans WorkLife training courses
22) Is the credit crunch having an effect on donations to
Samaritans?
At this time it is too early to evaluate what the impact of the
current financial climate will be but we are being cautious in our
financial forecasts and closely monitoring income to identify any
deterioration.
As a charity that offers vital emotional support to anyone in
distress and despair we are more relevant than ever and
consistently need funding to maintain our availability
round-the-clock. We want to stress to our generous supporters that
we rely on their continued support to maintain our life-saving
service.
23) Is it true that Samaritans lost money as a result of the
collapse of the Icelandic banks?
No. It has been misreported that Samaritans has lost money as a
result of the collapse of the Icelandic banks. In fact, we have
lost no money and have no money at risk.
24) How can people contact Samaritans?
For 24-hour support, you contact Samaritans in the following
ways:
- Telephone: 08457 90 90 90 in the UK or 1850 60 90 90 in
the Republic of Ireland.
- Minicom number: 08457 90 91 92
- Email: jo@samaritans.org
- Write to: Chris, PO Box 9090, Stirling, FK8 2SA
- Drop in to: your local branch – we have 201 branches
around the UK and Republic of Ireland
Find out
more about the different ways of contacting
Samaritans