It has been revealed by experts that the recent economic crisis had attributed to increase in suicide rates in Europe and America. Data from as many as 54 countries was assessed by the experts to analyze the global impact of the financial problem. The findings have been published in the British Medical Journal.

The analysis suggested that the collapse of US credit and housing markets in 2008 led to increase in suicide rates in Europe and America.

The male suicide rates were found to rise by 3.3% overall immediately after the crisis began. The rise was reported to be mostly in the countries where job losses were the highest.

The researchers accessed data for the analysis from the World Health Organization mortality database, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the International Monetary Fund's World Economic Outlook database.

The economic crisis began in 2008, leading to a 37% rise in unemployment and 3% fall in GDP per capita in 2009.

A Samaritans spokesperson said it is not surprising for them to know that suicide rates were high during the financial crisis. He added, "A snapshot survey of calls to our branches in 2008, just before the current recession began, showed that one in 10 callers talked about financial difficulties".