Psychological Reports, 2003,93,225-226. O Psychological Reports 2003 MEMBERSHIP IN VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS AND RATES OF SUICIDE IN THE PROVINCES OF CANADA'

Summary.-Applying Lester's method to data from 10 Canadian provinces, the 1997 and 1999 age-standardized rates of suicide were not associated with the exrent (%) to which Canadians participated in voluntary associations. Durkheim (1897) contributed much to understanding rates of social suicide by proposing that suicide rates were associated with social integration (the extent to which the members of the society are bound together in social networks) and social regulation (the extent to which the desires and emotions of the members of the society are restrained by social norms and cus-toms). Johnson (1965) revised Durkheim's classic sociological theory of suicide by arguing that rates of suicide are negatively associated with social integration and regulation. Medical profes-sionals and researchers involved with suicide agree a complex myriad of factors such as mental illness, social isolation, a history of suicide attempt, family violence, physical illness, and sub-stance abuse are associated (U.S. Public Health Service, 1999; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Drawing on Durkheim's theory of social integration and suicide, the hypothesis was that high social isolation (low group membership) may be seen as decreasing social integra-tion (and thus higher rates of suicide) and low isolation (high group membership) as increasin