Alcohol consumption and gender gap in suicide mortality in Europe

In most countries, suicide rates are significantly higher for men compared to women, even though women attempt suicide more frequently. The gender gap in suicide rate is particularly high in the countries of Eastern Europe. Aims: This study aims to test the hypothesis that national differences in the level of alcohol consumption explain the East-West discrepancy in the gender gap in suicide rates. Methods: The male-to-female ratio of suicides (the five-year average from 2010 to 2014) was calculated. The comparison in the gender gap in suicides was made between Western (n 21) and Eastern (n 24) European countries (t-test). In addition, the male-to-female ratio of suicides and the level of alcohol consumption per capita in Western and Eastern European countries were compared. Results: The average gender gap in suicide rates in Western and Eastern European countries was 3,8±0,32 и 4,9±0,35 respectively, while the average level of alcohol consumption per capita was 1,8±0,18 и 3,1±0,35 respectively...