Impacts of economic crisis and

suicides due to unemployment in

Spain

INTRODUCTION
lvaro et al. (2012) reveal that death by suicide constitutes an enormous public health
problem, both because of the death and also because of the social and emotional impact on
relatives and friends. According to the World Health Organization estimates, more than one
million people worldwide die due to suicide in 2000. Spain has one of the lowest suicide
mortality rates in Europe. Recently, however, the country has experienced one of the highest
increases in suicide compare with other countries in Europe and around the world.
According to De Vogli (2014), the Eurozone crisis disproportionately affect more
vulnerable populations in society and causes increases of suicides and deaths due to mental
and behavioral disorders especially among those who lose their jobs, homes and economic
activities because of the crisis.
The Spanish crisis began in 2007 and four years later an economic recovery is yet to
be seen. The crisis contributes to increasing unemployment, poverty, financial problems and
social deprivation. Also, economic downturn frequently leads to reductions in job security and
cuts in welfare security programs such as unemployment benefits. In addition, there is an
unambiguous relationship between unemployment and suicide and suicide attempts also in
non-crisis settings (Crdoba-Doa, 2014).
The principal objective of this work is to analyse the trends in death of suicide due
to unemployment in Spain in recent years through a bibliographic search.

RESULTS
The growth of suicides in men is also extendable to suicide attempts, breaking a historical
trend distribution in favor of women. Men, finally, have the greater risk of unemployment,
followed by small business owners and self-employed workers, which indicates a growth in
the number of suicides in line with the increase in the unemployment rate.
According to lvaro-Meca (2013), the high suicide mortality rate among men may be due to
the masculine role played by men in Western cultures, which requires men not to perceive or
admit anxiety. The changes in social roles and current realities may have led to a
deconstruction of the traditional role of men, and resulted in the lack of a new model.
Andalusia is a region which has a high level of unemployment, one study shows a sharp
increase in suicide attempt rates. It was detected after the onset of the crisis, both in men
and in women. Adults aged 35 to 54 years were the most affected in both sexes. Suicide
attempt rates were associated with unemployment rates in men, accounting for almost half
of the cases during the five initial years of the crisis (
Crdoba-Doa, 2014).
There is a clear geographical pattern. the southern areas in Spain (Andaluca, Murcia,
Extremadura) have the lowest gross domestic product in Spain and have the highest suicide
mortality rate. Furthermore, Asturias and Galicia (rural areas) have increasing levels of
suicide. The capitals of the provinces, including Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia (urban
centres with high population density), have high suicide rates. In contrast, Castilla Len,
Castilla la Mancha and Aragn (unpopulated geographic areas of Spain) have low suicide
rates (lvaro-Meca, 2013).

DISCUSSIONS
Death by suicide differs between men and women in Spain, with suicide increasing
among women aged 35 and 40 years during the study period. Suicides in Spain show a clear
geographic pattern, and the highest rates were found in regions with high rates of
unemployment, especially among men. According to lvaro-Meca (2013), the high suicide
mortality rate among men may be due to the masculine role played by men in Western
cultures, which requires men not to perceive or admit anxiety. The changes in social roles
and current realities may have led to a deconstruction of the traditional role of men, and
resulted in the lack of a new model.
PROPOSALS FOR IMPROVEMENT
The health administration should take measures to prevent suicides and preventive
strategies focused on men and women with high-risk profiles, particularly those living in
areas with the highest rates of suicide.
First, identify the population at risk. Once identified, it would test the psychological
health center. According to the results, include or not in the prevention program. This
program will consist of group therapy, workshops and training under the supervision of the
multidisciplinary team, trying to enter them into the labour market. Later we would do
monitoring of patients' evolution.
CONCLUSIONS

The evidence shows that recession and unemployment lead and raise of suicides
rates, is especially in men. This is because men don't want to admit the anxiety that the
financial crisis provokes. Therefore, the high suicide mortality in this group may be due to the
male role.
Hence as we have seen in various articles, the regions with highest unemployment
rates, such as Andalusia, Murcia, Extremadura have more suicides than regions with less
unemployment rates. Also regions with low gross domestic product and high population
density, have high suicides mortality rate.
Therefore, its necessary to identify the population at risk by nurse intervention to prevent
suicides. Since the policy could also post a very important social protection measures
implemented through social services.

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