Suicidal ideation and unemployment: A prospective longitudinal study

Abstract

A prospective longitudinal study between 1980 and 1988 of school leavers entering adulthood examined unemployment and its relationship to suicidal ideation and a number of psychometric variables. The findings did not support an association between unemployment and suicidal ideation in young adults. However, there was an association between dissatisfaction with employment and suicidal ideation. These results suggest that suicidal ideation is related to more enduring personality and health related issues, although it must be acknowledged that individual patients may be distressed by their employment status.