Gender-related changes in suicide rates and methods in Eastern Finland from 1988 to 1997

The first aim of the study was to investigate the changes in regional suicide rates for the province of Kuopio, Eastern Finland, from 1988 to 1997 and compare rates with those for the whole Finland. The second aim was to investigate gender-related changes in suicide rates and methods during the study period. Altogether, 777 suicides were examined. Between 1988 and 1997, regional male suicide mortality decreased, approaching the mean national level, which was rising during the same interval. From 1992 to 1997, there was a rise in regional suicide mortality, which coincided with a decrease at the national level. Female suicide rates in Eastern Finland also initially decreased, but thereafter remained variable and slightly higher than the national level. Gender-related differences in suicide mortality diminished. The initial difference between genders in mean age (49.5 years in women, 41.8 years in men) disappeared towards the end of the study period (47.0 years in women, 45.2 years in men). The decline in mean ages of women was mostly due to change in urban suicides, whereas the increase in the mean age of men was caused by change in rural suicides. Among men, the relative proportion of self-poisoning suicides rose significantly. The divergent development of suicide rates from the province of Kuopio and the entire nation may reflect differences in the development of social structures in rural Eastern Finland compared to more densely populated parts of the country. Gender differences and local variation in suicide mortality should be taken into account when assessing and developing further suicide prevention strategies.