A research study of 26 countries of the European Union, dated 1970-2007, and featured in the latest issue of The Lancet, reveals that more suicides and crimes have come about because of rises in unemployment.

The current global economic crisis portends a similar situation as investments fall, bringing about a rise in employment layoffs, thus creating the nagging fear of an uncertain and insecure future.

The research data show ‘that every 1% increase in unemployment was associated with a 0•79% rise in suicides at ages younger than 65 years’ and ‘a more than 3% increase in unemployment had a greater effect on suicides at ages younger than 65 years.’

Some interesting findings of the empirical study across Europe: ‘rises in unemployment are associated with significant short-term increases in premature deaths from intentional violence, while reducing traffic fatalities,’ ‘populations varied substantially in how sensitive mortality was to economic crises,’ and the social protection offered by the state is a crucial variable and factor.

As a valuable insight to policy makers, the researchers make the conclusion that operational and effective labor market programs that sustain employment (employee retention and employee reintegration) could help mitigate the impact of economic crises on public health.

The study validates the proposition that governments and states can alleviate the harmful effects of recession on population health. In fact, at the point of economic crisis, only the government can have the capability to assure public health.

The study was funded by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, King’s College, London and UK’s Wates Foundation.

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Via The Lancet