The accuracy of officially reported suicide statistics for purposes of epidemiological research.

• DOI: 10.1136/jech.36.1.43
• Publication Date: 2008-11-12T20:09:01Z
• Authors: P Sainsbury; J S Jenkins
• Keywords: Male; United Kingdom; 3. Good health; Suicide; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Accidents; Humans; Female; Epidemiologic Methods; Coroners and Medical Examiners; Demography

Suicide is underreported for a number of reasons and the reliability official rates subject to error from variation in defining reporting cases--the kind inaccuracies encountered when ascertaining cases studies mortality any cause. Nevertheless, evidence designed see whether these sources invalidate differences reported between cultural social groups indicate that they are randomised, at least an extent allows epidemiologists compare countries districts within them, demographic groups, over time.