Suicide in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The present investigation was undertaken to explore the special factors associated with low suicide rates in Newfoundland and covered the ten year period of 1964 to 1973. The data were collected from death certificates. Comparisons were made with figures for Canada as a whole, as reported in the official statistics. Apart from a constant overall low rate of suicide in Newfoundland, women and young people (aged 15 to 29) failed to show an increase in the suicide rates such as has been observed in other parts of Canada and throughout the western world. In Newfoundland, age specific suicide rates, choice of method, variations in the rates for different religious denominations and seasonal variations in suicide rates were different from those observed elsewhere. Generally, suicide in Newfoundland shows a much older pattern and does not involve the new high-risk groups seen in more urbanized societies. Possible explanations for the special demographic characteristics of suicide in Newfoundland are offered, mainly on social, cultural and geographical grounds.