According to figures from UK researchers, the economic crisis in Europe and North America led to more than 10,000 extra suicides.
The study by the University of Oxford and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine analyzed data from 24 EU countries, the US and Canada. The results were published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, showing a marked rise in suicides.
Suicides have been declining in Europe until 2007. By 2009 there was a 6.5% increase, a level that was sustained until 2011. Research showed 7,950 more suicides than would have been expected, although some deaths may have been avoidable as some countries showed no increase in suicide rate.
Campaign groups said the findings showed how important good mental health services were.
A spokesman from the charity Mind said, "Redundancy and other life circumstances brought about by the recession can trigger depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts for anyone, whether they have previously experienced a mental health problem or not. For some people, these factors can become so difficult to cope with that suicide may feel like the only option."
I've always thought suicide was against God's decree of, Thou shall not kill. Yourself or another.
No matter how bad things get, tomorrow is another day. Each dawn brings a slight change of events. We should never give up hope.