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Debt and suicidal behaviour in the Finnish general population
Author(s) -
Hintikka J.,
Kontula O.,
Saarinen P.,
Tanskanen A.,
Koskela K.,
Viinamäki H.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1998.tb10125.x
Subject(s) - suicidal ideation , debt , population , psychiatry , risk factor , sample (material) , psychology , clinical psychology , depression (economics) , suicide prevention , demography , poison control , medicine , medical emergency , finance , economics , environmental health , chemistry , chromatography , sociology , macroeconomics
We studied the significance of debt as a risk factor for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in a nation‐wide sample ( n = 4868) of the Finnish general population. Those experiencing difficulties in repaying their debts more often than others (37 vs. 16%, P > 0.001) had a probable minor mental disorder (GHQ‐12 score 3≥3). Nevertheless, difficulties in repaying debts were found to be a factor independently associated with suicidal ideation (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.9–4.2). The clinical implication of these findings is that individuals experiencing difficulties in repaying their debts may require psychiatric evaluation as well as socio‐economic counselling.