I used mainly the report, “Suicide in Canada, Update of the Report of the Task Force on Suicide in Canada” by the mental health division of Health Canada. This report is an update report published in 1987. It provided an extensive overview of the suicide in Canada and identified a variety of factors that have been linked to suicide.

From this report I have chosen some factors:

1) Sociocultural factors

Ethnic distribution (major minorities and aboriginal)

The report indicated that Aboriginal communities have much higher suicide rate than those observed in general population. I think also that the areas where minorities are not clustered have few social networks for those minorities, so they may not get enough support from others.

Age distribution of age between 20 – 39
The reports explains that the young adults are at a higher risk.

2) Economic factors

Average income by work activities
Housing cost
Governmental transfer income (EI)

Although the report states there are no straight forward link between income and suicide risk, I would like to add the factor. I feel in the long run it might affect people to promote suicide and imply the economic situation about the regions. Housing costs are a major expense in the income, so I have used it with the average income to create a layer. I believe Governmental transfer income also influence the economic activities in the regions, so I think it is necessary to add it as a factor.

3) Environmental factors
Infant mortality rate
Infant mortality rate has implications of the quality of the environment (societies) since they are most valuable in the society.

4) Alcoholic and drug issues
The number of deaths caused by alcoholic and drug related issues.

The report notes that the high rate of suicide has been found out among alcoholics and drug abusers.

5) Prior information
The number of suicide in 1996 and 2001