A Study of Suicides in Finland and Sweden

Essay from the year 2012 in the subject Business economics - General, grade: 1st, King`s College London, course: Business Administration, language: English, abstract: Nordic countries have traditionally had fairly high suicide rates compared with other countries. Finland and Sweden are ranked 15th and 31st respectively on a global ranking of suicide rates (WHO, 2011). Each Country's Government and various health organisations are actively recording suicide data in order to help reduce suicides. In recent decades, several researchers have suggested a link between increasing daily dosages of antidepressants and the falling rates of suicide (Lester, 1971). Research also shows that there could be a link between suicide rates and the lack of bright light in winter. Around 10% of northern Europeans are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as the 'winter blues'. SAD can make people feel more depressed in winter months or when sunlight hours are reduced. This report analyses the distribution of suicides in both Finland and Sweden per month in order to judge the impacts of SAD, and will look at the link between suicides and antidepressant usage. Finland and Sweden have been chosen for this study as they have similar cultures, climate and lie on the same longitude meaning a more reliable comparison can be made.