[benpbenp]

Well, and I don't think this is a nitpick, a recession is not the same as a depression. It would be good to get the original source for both of these facts to compare. Perhaps during recession, the number of "failures" is not increased quite enough to create the "generally accepted reason for failure" you might find in a depression.

[ptaipale]

At least in Finland, there was a decrease in suicide rates in 1940-1945 (war) and the more recent downward trend started from 1990 (beginning of very strong 5-year recession).

After the war and immediate reconstruction, the suicide rates predominantly climbed up from 1950 to 1990.

http://tilastokeskus.fi/til/ksyyt/2010/ksyyt_2010_2011-12-16...

[DanBC]

Okay, that's a fair nitpick. It's explained by my careless use of words. Rates of completed suicide correlate strongly with a bunch of economic indicators: number of people without work; number of house repossessions; etc.