Acute Economic Deterioration and Suicide: Gross Domestic Product-Growth Rate Predicts Suicide during 2009 Economic Contraction

Data on gross domestic product-growth rate (GDP-GR) and suicide were obtained for 37 countries from World Bank and World Health Organization. GDP-GR predicted suicide during economic contraction (2009) but not economic expansion (2012). Sex differences were discovered. Economic deterioration negatively predicts population health. Comparisons are made with the 2020 pandemic.