A Socioeconomic Perspective on Suicide Cases: Studies on a Group of Middle-Income Countries

Suicide is a phenomenon that poses a danger to all parts of society. It is highly likely that there is a strong correlation between socioeconomic indices and suicide rates. The study's goal is to research the relationship between suicide and socioeconomic indicators. In the study, suicide frequency for the period 1990-2017 (per 100 thousand people), per capita income, mean schooling, unemployment rate, and the share of cancer cases in the population variables of the BRICS and MIST country group members analyzed using the Panel ARDL method. According to results, suicide is negatively associated with per capita income and mean schooling. The relationship between the share of cancer cases in the population and suicide is positive. No significant relationship found between the unemployment rate and suicide. Due to certain limitations of the study and the multifaceted determinants of suicide, more studies are needed on the subject. In middle-income countries, increasing wealth and improving educational opportunities play a role in reducing suicide.