Suicidal Behavior in Edinburgh and Seattle

Suicidal behavior in Seattle and Edinburgh, Scotland, was compared on the basis of data obtained from vital statistics and interviews. There were many similarities between those making attempts in the two places, but marked differences were observed in the method used and in the incidence of alcoholism and drinking at the time of the act. The author identified psychosocial characteristics of Edinburgh that might account for its having a lower suicide rate than Seattle. These included a lower incidence of alcoholism, a more integrated and less mobile society, a smaller percentage of foreign-born and racial minorities, and a cultural tradition of more controlled and less violent behavior. Moreover, the less lethal method of drug overdose was more often used in Edinburgh than in Seattle.