1. Magda Czarnecka, Dermot Gorman, Rachel King, Wojtek Wojcik
Key themes from a study of Polish suicides in Lothian and Scotland recommendations for policy and practice
Magda Czarnecka, Dermot Gorman, Rachel King, Wojtek Wojcik

2. Why?
Concern about suicides by Polish nationals from Polish Consulate and Feniks.
Is there a problem and, if so, what should be done?

3. Determining ‘Polish suicides’ from death records is complicated.
Calculated the suicide rate of Polish residents living in Scotland.
Using suicide and undetermined deaths -(WHO includes suicide only in official statistics)
Reviewed Crown Office records of all the cases
Police reports hold detail about the person & circumstances
Post mortem reports
68 sets of notes – seen at the Crown Office in Edinburgh

4. Results – Polish in Scotland 2012-16
59 suicides and 9 undetermined deaths
58 men and 10 women
Polish population in Scotland - 86,000 (ONS, 2017)

5. 21.6
20.8
14.1
Polish people living in Poland and Scotland have similar suicides rate. This is a higher level than Scotland.

7. Characteristics Time in Scotland: 2 weeks – 12 years
Mean age men 37.0, women 32.8
Migrants and mostly living in areas in the most disadvantaged quintile
Migration putting relationships under stress

8. Methods
Hanging
Poles in Scot. 63%
Scotland 46%
Poland 80-90%

9. Employment Unemployed - 35% Low-skilled shift work - 50% Isolated
24 (6 recent job loss noted, 1 recent benefits cut highlighted)
Driver (Bus, HGV etc.) 5
Catering / restaurant 6
Food production 2
Farm labour 4
Carer
School 1
Building / construction trades 8
Cleaning job / recycling plant
Company executive
Housewife 3
Retired
Unknown
Total 68
Employment
Unemployed - 35%
Low-skilled shift work - 50%
Isolated
Cleaning or driving jobs

10. Marital status

11. Alcohol Information in 30 sets of notes Financial issues
‘Alcoholic or heavy drinker’ described in 20
Another 5 drunk at time of death
Debt and gambling
Alcohol Information in 30 sets of notes Financial issues

12. GP registration more common in women 9 of 10 than men 37 of 58
several registered but hadn’t seen GP,
11 had been seen by GP in last month of life
Presentation rare for mental health problems
If sees the GP then
Hides what is going on,
Consult primarily for physical problems,
also use Polish practitioners and medical care at ‘home’
Source medication from Poland
NHS contact

13. May be clear warning signals...
Gave partner flowers – telling her she ‘wouldn't have to look after him any more (also previous police call out re suicide threat)
Told hospital staff she intended to go home and kill herself. She left 20 minutes after a nurse saw her and killed herself.
Left a suicide note and had been googling 'how to hang yourself'
Drowning attempt several months before
Had visited a psychiatry clinic where previously treated & GP in days before death - 'told it is 12 week wait for psychiatry on day he died’

14. Unfamiliar with legal situation
Had developed a concern that he was not really allowed to drive (a goods vehicle) after a drink driving ban
Cautioned regarding computer contents on day before he was found hanged.

15. Summary Poland’s higher suicide rates carried into Scotland
Similar range of ‘reasons’ for suicide to Scots
Relationship breakdown
Shift work and isolation
Job loss
Benefits or legal problems
Migration often a potential aggravating factor
Language
Understanding of and access to services
Using Polish healthcare while in Scotland
Lack of family and friends

16. Further work – huge potential range e.g.
Work with existing services – offering training to staff on Polish suicide issues
Suicide prevention work to raise awareness within the Polish community of health resources and lines of support
A campaign targeting Polish nationals & large employers of Polish people.
Build capacity in employment agencies and benefits centres to increase ability to support individuals in distress

17. Thank you