Studies of suicidal behavior using national registers: An adventure without boundaries?

Résumé

Nordic register data have contributed substantially to the knowledge base on suicidal behavior. Given that the Nordic experience may be of relevance for other entities contemplating similar systems, this editorial offers a brief overview of the personal id number and the rationale for its use in Nordic countries. The authors identify some of the main contributions from register-based data to suicide research in terms of studies of risk predictors and evaluations of interventions. The strengths and limitations of register-based data are presented along with an exploration of future venues for research. The experiences gained for a suicide research perspective might be of interest to foreign entities who are contemplating to access the Nordic registers. SCANDINAVIE SUICIDOLOGIE