Alcohol consumtion and suicide in Belarus and Russia: a comparative analysis of trends

Trends in age-adjusted, sex-specific suicide rate and level of alcohol consumption per capita from 1980 to 2005 in Belarus and Russia were analyzed employing an ARIMA time series analyses. The results of the time series analysis indicate the presence of a statistically significant association between the two variables. According to results of analysis 1 liters increase in alcohol consumption per capita would results in a 6,6% increase in suicide rate in Belarus and 6,5% increase in Russia. The present study provides support the hypothesis that suicide and alcohol are closely connected in culture were intoxication-oriented drinking pattern prevails and adds to the growing body of evidence that alcohol plead a crucial role in the fluctuation in suicide mortality rate in Belarus and Russia during the last decades.