Self-Harm Often Follows Economic Ruin

Researchers in the United Kingdom report that self-harm behavior among middle-aged men increased by 50% in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Senior study author Dr. Nav Kapur writes, “[Men] in midlife are a group we are particularly worried about because of their high rate of suicide… Our research highlights the potential importance of economic factors, so providing advice for unemployment, housing, and financial problems is likely to be helpful. But improving access to services and tackling alcohol misuse could have a big impact, too.” British Journal of Psychiatry, May 2019