Suicide in England and Wales and in Scotland. An examination of divergent trends

Abstract

The suicide rates in England and Wales and Scotland converged during the late 1960s, and from 1970 were higher in Scotland. The convergence occurred because of differences in the falls in rates of those aged over 45 years and not because of differences in frequency and decline of coal gas suicide. Male suicide increased more rapidly in Scotland during the 1970s. In England and Wales overall female suicide rates fell during 1958-76 whereas in Scotland there was no clear trend. Suicide by car exhaust increased similarly in both countries, but that by hanging and drug poisoning increased more rapidly in Scotland.