Suicidal ideation among the long-term unemployed: a 5-year follow-up

Suicidal ideation was monitored in a 5-year follow-up of a representative sample of long-term unemployed Norwegians. Four items from the General Health Questionnaire-28 were used as a Suicidal Ideation Index, which showed a prevalence of 17% in the present sample of unemployed subjects, higher than the value of 11% in a sample of Australian students used to construct the Index. Five years later, suicidal ideation was found in 6% of those who had been re-employed and 22% of those still unemployed, indicating that the high prevalence of suicidal ideation may be due to unemployment. Routine clinical examination was also tried for preventive purposes. In total, 8% of the unemployed subjects showed clinically significant suicidal ideation. They were referred to a psychologist or their GP, and were given the standard advice about suicide prevention. A Resource Centre, which many employees at the Labour Office have missed, has now been set up in the area under the National Plan for Suicide Prevention.