Differences in suicide rates: an examination of under-reporting

A search of death certificates in the Registrar of Births and Deaths in Newfoundland was conducted covering the period of 1974 to 1978. In addition to 103 cases of suicide recorded on the certificates, in 104 cases no cause of death was recorded. The latter were further investigated through records of the forensic pathologist to determine the causes of death. Out of these, 14 cases were found to be unequivocal suicides and in 58 cases, cause of death was undetermined, or not investigated. These were added to the reported suicides (103) to provide a maximum possible correction for under-reporting. The suicide rate in Newfoundland still remains less than half the national rate in spite of the correction for underreporting. Implications of these findings are discussed in the light of reported research literature in this field, and social factors in the province.