Table 2

Influence of type of State government and other factors on suicide in NSW (1901–1998)

MenWomen
Number of suicidesRate/ 100000 adjusted for age onlyRR adjusted for age onlyRR adjusted for age and all other variablesNumber of suicidesRate/ 100000 adjusted for age onlyRR adjusted for age onlyRR adjusted for age and all other variables
*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001. †Referent group.
RR = Relative Risk.
State government
    Labor†1838323.891.001.0060888.061.001.00
    Conservative1459826.511.11***1.09***50029.591.19***1.17***
% Annual change in GDP
    Minus 10%52913.471.44***1.36**10634.471.011.00
    Minus 5–9%59410.901.12*1.1014226.810.930.99
    Minus 4% to plus 4%†51189.911.001.00147523.941.001.00
    Plus 5–9%1034410.401.071.05342925.621.17***1.13**
    Plus 10%125689.611.000.97475823.941.21***1.24***
Drought
    No drought†2063924.171.001.0066107.811.001.00
    Drought1234224.171.001.0044808.981.15***1.04
First world war
    No war†3210724.451.001.00108718.381.001.00
    War87426.411.081.082197.290.870.85
Second world war
    No war†3182724.801.001.00106548.421.001.00
    War115418.350.71***0.74***4366.730.800.90
Sedative epidemic
    No sedatives†2972024.171.001.0093677.731.001.00
    Sedatives326127.311.16***1.13***172313.611.76***1.74***