Suicide rates in European OECD nations converged during the period 1990–2010

Purpose and methods The aim of this study was to investigate, with multiple regression analyses, the effect of selected characteristics on the rate of decrease of suicide rates in 21 OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) nations over the period 1990–2010, with initial levels of suicide rates taken into account. Results The rate of decrease seems mainly (83%) to be determined by the initial suicide rates in 1990. In nations with relatively high initial rates, the rates decreased faster. The suicide rates also converged. Conclusion The study indicates that beta convergence alone explained most of the cross-national variations.