El suicidio en la España de hoy

espanolEspana presenta una de las tasas de suicidio mas bajas (8,7 por 100.000), pero ha sufrido, junto a Irlanda, uno de los incrementos en las tasas mas altos de Europa y del mundo. En nuestro pais se puede observar un aumento en las tasas de suicidio desde 1975 hasta 1994, produciendose una estabilizacion en los anos siguientes; este incremento es mas pronunciado entre los varones que entre las mujeres. Los factores sociales, especialmente ligados a los papeles de sexo y los cambios en estos papeles, son las explicaciones mas probables. Otra posible explicacion del aumento observado de la mortalidad por suicidio entre los varones jovenes podria ser la epidemia de sida y de adiccion a drogas por via parenteral (ADVP) que se observo en Espana en las decadas de los anos ochenta y noventa. Por otra parte, estamos ante una verdadera epidemia de violencia contra los ninos y contra las mujeres. Hay abundante literatura medica sobre la relacion entre el abuso infantil (psicologico o sexual) y el riesgo de suicidio en la adolescencia o en la vida adulta. Las mujeres que sufren violencia por parte de su companero sentimental tienen un mayor riesgo de padecer dolor cronico, diversas somatizaciones, mayor consumo de sustancias toxicas como drogas y alcohol, depression e intentos de suicidio. La asociacion entre la precariedad laboral y el suicidio parece deberse a causas economicas y de apoyo social y familiar, las cuales producen una mayor vulnerabilidad a enfermedades mentales. Estos factores tienen gran importancia porque Espana presenta las tasas de paro y contratacion temporal mas altas de la Union Europea. Parece razonable pensar que dado el individualismo de la sociedad contemporanea, las exigencias de esta sociedad y el nuevo papel de la mujer frente al mercado laboral, que produce entre otras cosas una mayor dificultad en conciliar la vida laboral y familiar, son factores que pueden explicar que no se produzca una disminucion en las tasas de suicidio. EnglishSpain presents one of the lowest suicide rates (8.7 per 100,000) but, as well as Ireland, it has also experienced one of the highest rate increases both within Europe and within the world. In our country, it can be observed an increase in the suicide rates from 1975 to 1994, being this increase greater in men than in women. It can also be noted that there was a stabilisation in the following years. Social factors, specially those which have to deal with gender roles and changes in these roles, are the most common explanations. Another possible explanation for the observed increase in mortality due to suicide among young men could be the AIDS epidemic and intravenous drug addiction, that was observed in Spain during the eighties and nineties. Furthermore, we are witnessing an epidemic related to violence against children and women. Literature strongly suggests that child abuse (psychological and sexual) is associated with increased suicide risk in adolescent or adult life. Women experience violence from their intimate partners and have a greater risk of suffering from chronic pain, diverse somatisations, greater substance use like drugs and alcohol, depression and suicide attempt. The association between work precariousness and suicide seems to be due to economic and social and family support factors, which can lead to greater vulnerability to mental health problems. These factors are of great relevance, since Spain presents one of the highest unemployment and temporary employment rates in the European Union. It seems reasonable that, due to the individualism that characterises the contemporary society, its demands and the new role of women in the work market that cause, among others, a greater difficulty in combining work and family life, are factors that could explain the lack of decrease in suicide rates.