Doctoral defense - Hildur Guðný Ásgeirsdóttir

Abstract

Stressful and traumatic life events increase risks of psychiatric morbidities which may result in enhanced suicidal risk in vulnerable populations. The overall aim of the thesis was to explore the association between traumatic and other stressful life events and suicidal behavior. Also, as an example of a significant societal stressor, we aimed to study the potential influence of the 2008 economic collapse in Iceland on population rates of self-harm, suicide attempts, as well as suicides.

The findings of these studies suggest that personal trauma is associated with suicidal behavior, particularly among men. Similarly, while we found no overall differences in pre-to-post economic collapse rates, neither for hospital attendances nor suicide rates, our findings indicate that economic fluctuations in Iceland mainly influence suicidal behavior among sub-population of men. Contrary to previous findings on economic crises and suicidal behavior, we found higher suicide rates with higher GDP, and a high-point in male self-harm and suicide attempts during an economic boom. Icelandic men seem to be at increased risk for suicidal behavior during a strong economy rather than during a recession.