Objective: It has previously been reported that rates of suicide among men aged 15-44 increased rapidly during the 1980s and 1990s. The present study examines whether geographical inequalities in suicide rates among men in this age group rose during the period 1980-2001 in New Zealand.
Methods: Age-standardized rates of suicide for men aged 15-44 were calculated for District Health Boards (DHBs) and in deprivation quintiles (using the 2001 New Zealand deprivation score) for the periods 1980-1982, 1985-1987, 1990-1992, 1995-1997 and 1999-2001. Geographical inequality was measured by calculating the ratio of the suicide rate deprivation quintile 5 to quintile 1.
Results: Age-standardized rates of suicide among men aged 15-44 increased in all but two DHBs between 1980 and 2001. The ratio of inequality in suicide between the least deprived and most deprived areas of New Zealand rose from 1.68 in 1980-1982 to a high of 1.94 in 1990-1992, followed by a small reduction to 1.86 by the end of the study period.
Conclusions: Geographical inequalities in suicide among men aged 15-44 grew during the period 1980-2001 and remain at high levels. The greatest increase in inequality was during the late 1980s and early 1990s, a period of rapid social and economic change to New Zealand society.