Antoon A. Leenaars

Suicide rates in Canada before and after tightening firearm control laws

In Canada, Bill C-51 was implemented in 1977 to restrict the use of firearms, providing a good opportunity to study the effects of gun control laws in the use of firearms for suicide. The present study examined the use of guns for suicide during the period prior to the bill and during the period after the passing of Bill C-51 to assess the association of the bill with suicide rates. Analysis showed a significant decreasing trend after passage of Bill C-51 on the firearm suicide rate in Canada and the percentage of suicides using firearms. The analysis supports the position that restricting easy access to lethal methods of suicide may assist in reducing suicide.

Suicide in Canada

The Canadian National Task Force on Suicide found that suicide rates in Canada, especially among youth, exceed those in other countries around the world, including the United States. Health care professionals and social service providers identify suicide as one of the most important areas in which they need information. Yet, there has been little change in public policies, and support for research is lacking. Compiled by Canadas leading experts on suicide, this collection provides long-awaited information that focuses specifically on Canada. It addresses suicide as a multi-dimensional problem with biological, psychological, cultural, sociological, personal, and philosophical aspects. The contributions integrate both critical analysis and personal experience. There are accounts from Inuit elders, from women who have survived the loss of a family member, and from workers at a crisis line. Among the topics covered are the development of suicide prevention; theory and research; First Nations and Inuit peoples; family, community, and government approaches; distress centres; survivors; and the debate over the right to die. Suicide in Canada does more than simply describe the recent developments in suicidology in Canada - it is a call for action that will save lives. It will be of immediate use to psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers, crisis workers, and researchers.

Consultations for research in suicidology

Science means research. Current research in suicidology, however, needs development. Therefore, a task force was established by the International Academy for Suicide Research (IASR) to make recommendations for future study of suicide. These consultations are offered only as current thoughts to assist, not only in research, but also to aid in preventing suicide.

THE IMPACT OF GUN CONTROL (BILL C-51) ON SUICIDE IN CANADA

Suicide is a multiply determined behavior, calling for diverse prevention efforts. Gun control has been proposed as an important component of societys response, and an opportunity for studying the effects of legislative gun control laws on suicide rates was provided by Canadas Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1977 (Bill C-51). This article reviews previous studies of the impact of this act on the total population of Canada and subpopulations by age and gender and, in addition, presents the results of 2 new studies: a different method of analysis, an interrupted time-series analysis, and the results of a multiple regression analysis that controls for some social variables. It appears that Bill C-51 may have had an impact on suicide rates, even after controls for social variables.

The Effect of Domestic and Economic Stress on Suicide Rates in Canada and the United States.

The study of the variation in societal suicide rates still is guided primarily by Durkheims (1897) theory. He proposed primarily a social integration/regulation theory of suicide. One useful way of exploring this theory is from a cross-cultural perspective. Rates of birth, divorce, marriage, and unemployment were analyzed in comparison to rates of suicide from 1950 to 1985 in Canada and the United States. Results generally supported Durkheims theory except for marriage. There was no association between marriage and suicide in Canada, whereas in the United States marriage had a protective effect once other variables were taken into account. Divorce rates were associated positively and birth rates associated negatively with suicide in both countries. Unemployment rates added little predictive power to suicide rates. A historical perspective and caution about overgeneralizing the results are presented.

Controlling the environment to prevent suicide: international perspectives.

Background: Suicide and suicidal behaviour are multifaceted events requiring complex solutions. Controlling the environment is a neglected solution, despite strong support for this approach from the World Health Organization (WHO). Method To discuss this approach from a global view, this review is written by authors from various cultures: American, Australian, Canadian, Chinese, Cuban, Dutch, Indian, Irish, Japanese, Lithuanian, Native North American, Russian, and South African. Results We examine gun control to illustrate the environmental control approach; however, the worldwide diversity of suicide methods calls for diverse responses. Further, controlling the environment encompasses more than restricting the means of suicide, which we illustrate with examples of toned-down media reports and restricted medicine availability. Conclusions Controlling the environment may be a viable strategy for preventing suicide, although research shows that few clinicians implement such approaches.

Gender and the impact of gun control on suicide and homicide

Abstract An avenue to controlling lethal violence—suicide and homicide—may be to restrict the availability of the method. Guns are a preferred method for violence in many countries. An opportunity to study the effects of gun control laws on the use of firearms for suicide and homicide is provided by Canadas Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1977 (Bill C-51), enforced from 1978 on. Utilizing official mortality data, analysis showed a significant trend after passage of Bill C-51 in the decnase in the use of firearms for suicide and homicide but an increase in the use of all other methods for homicide. However, the bill had a preventive effect only on female suicide and homicide without displacement There may have been a compensatory use in other methods for males in both types of lethal violence. Implications for prevention arc discussed.

Psychache and Suicide: A Preliminary Investigation.

Shneidmans Psychological Pain Assessment Scale (PPAS; 1999) was administered to 88 psychiatric patients. Both current and worst-ever psychache were significantly higher in those patients judged by a psychiatrist, on the basis of a structured clinical interview, to be at risk of suicide. However, current and worstever psychache were not associated with having attempted suicide in the past. Thus, for the present sample of psychiatric patients, the PPAS appears to be more sensitive to current suicidality than to past suicidality. Further, there are validity issues with the PPAS, with the need for multi-item measures and probably a multifactor measure.

Domestic Integration and Suicide in the Provinces of Canada

Canadas rate of suicide varies from province to province. The classical theory of suicide, which attempts to explain the social suicide rate, stems from Durkheim, who argued that low levels of social integration and regulation are associated with high rates of suicide. The present study explored whether social factors (divorce, marriage, and birth rates) do in fact predict suicide rates over time for each province (period studied: 1950-1990). The results showed a positive association between divorce rates and suicide rates, and a negative association between birth rates and suicide rates. Marriage rates showed no consistent association, an anomaly as compared to research from other nations.

Effects of Gun Control on Homicide in Canada

Data from Canada from 1969 to 1985 showed that the passage of a stricter firearms control law in 1977 was associated with a decrease in the use of firearms for homicide but an increase in the use of all other methods for homicide.