Citation

Pridmore S, Ahmadi J, Pridmore W. Australas. Psychiatry 2018; 26(2): 149-151.

Affiliation

Postgraduate Student, Medical School, ANU, Canberra, ACT, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1039856217734740

PMID

28990405

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: National suicide rates fall during times of war. This fits with the notion of the population coming together against a common foe. But, what happens in the case of a war which is not fully supported, which draws the population and families apart? We consider this question by examining the Australian suicide rates during the divisive Vietnam War.

METHODS: We graphed and examined the Australian suicide figures for 1921-2010.

RESULTS: We found clear evidence of a decrease in the suicide rate for World War II (consistent with other studies), but a marked elevation of suicide during the Vietnam War.

CONCLUSIONS: The elevation of the Australian suicide rate during the Vietnam War is consistent with Durkheim's social integration model - when social integration is lessened, either by individual characteristics or societal characteristics, the risk of suicide rises.

Language: en

Keywords

social integration model; suicide; suicide prevention; war