Psychological Reports, 1992, 71, 738.
@ Psychological Reports 1992
DECRIMINALIZATION O F SUICIDE IN CANADA AND SUICIDE RATES ' DAVID LESTER Richard Stockton State College Summary.-The decriminalization of suicide in Canada in 1972 did not lead to an increasing rate of suicide afterwards when compared with the period prior to 1972.
Prior to 1972 in Canada, suicide was illegal. The present note examines whether the decriminaLzation of suicide was reflected in Canada's suicide rate (obtained from WHO, annual). The mean annual Canadian suicide rate from 1962 to 1971 was 9.3 per 100,000 per year (SD = l.6), but from 1973 to 1982 the mean rate was 13.6 (SD = 0.9), which is significantly higher (t,,= 7.53, p < ,001). However, the suicide rate increased during the ten-year period from 1962 to 1971 (regression coefficient/slope 0.52), and the rate of increase in the ten-year period from 1973 to 1982 was less (regression coefficient/slope = 0.22). The suicide rate increased at a slower pace after the legalization of suicide than it did prior to the legalization. From this analysis it appears that changing the legal status of suicide in Canada in 1972 was not associated with an increase in the rate of suicide (or perhaps the certification of suicide by coroners). REFERENCE WHO. World health sfatistics annual. Geneva: World Health Org:~luzation,1962-1982. Accepted Augrrst 18, 1392.
'Address correspondence to D. Lester, Psychology Program, Richard Stockton State College, Pomona, NJ 08240.
@ Psychological Reports 1992
DECRIMINALIZATION O F SUICIDE IN CANADA AND SUICIDE RATES ' DAVID LESTER Richard Stockton State College Summary.-The decriminalization of suicide in Canada in 1972 did not lead to an increasing rate of suicide afterwards when compared with the period prior to 1972.
Prior to 1972 in Canada, suicide was illegal. The present note examines whether the decriminaLzation of suicide was reflected in Canada's suicide rate (obtained from WHO, annual). The mean annual Canadian suicide rate from 1962 to 1971 was 9.3 per 100,000 per year (SD = l.6), but from 1973 to 1982 the mean rate was 13.6 (SD = 0.9), which is significantly higher (t,,= 7.53, p < ,001). However, the suicide rate increased during the ten-year period from 1962 to 1971 (regression coefficient/slope 0.52), and the rate of increase in the ten-year period from 1973 to 1982 was less (regression coefficient/slope = 0.22). The suicide rate increased at a slower pace after the legalization of suicide than it did prior to the legalization. From this analysis it appears that changing the legal status of suicide in Canada in 1972 was not associated with an increase in the rate of suicide (or perhaps the certification of suicide by coroners). REFERENCE WHO. World health sfatistics annual. Geneva: World Health Org:~luzation,1962-1982. Accepted Augrrst 18, 1392.
'Address correspondence to D. Lester, Psychology Program, Richard Stockton State College, Pomona, NJ 08240.
