Junk Science? Dogs Stop 135,000 Suicides Per Year in UK
Discussion
"A total of 36 autistic dog owners were recruited for the study and quizzed on their relationship with their canine pet as well as how it impacted their mental wellbeing.
Six of the people in the study (16.7 per cent) said their dogs prevented them from ending their own lives. Around one in 100 people in the UK have autism, and a quarter of all adults own a dog.
Based on these assumptions, dog ownership would be responsible for preventing around 135,000 suicides among autistic adults in the UK alone, the researchers state in their study, published today in Scientific Reports. "
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/12/08/dogs-p...
To get a perspective the England and Wales suicide rate is 5000 per year.
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-brie...
So as the total of suicides among non dog owning autistic people is less than 5000 there is no way dog ownership can prevent 135000 suicides. Am I too stupid to be a scientist?
Maybe the answer is
"The researchers are now hoping to build on the findings and perform a quantitative, two-year project but need to secure funding first."
Six of the people in the study (16.7 per cent) said their dogs prevented them from ending their own lives. Around one in 100 people in the UK have autism, and a quarter of all adults own a dog.
Based on these assumptions, dog ownership would be responsible for preventing around 135,000 suicides among autistic adults in the UK alone, the researchers state in their study, published today in Scientific Reports. "
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/12/08/dogs-p...
To get a perspective the England and Wales suicide rate is 5000 per year.
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-brie...
So as the total of suicides among non dog owning autistic people is less than 5000 there is no way dog ownership can prevent 135000 suicides. Am I too stupid to be a scientist?
Maybe the answer is
"The researchers are now hoping to build on the findings and perform a quantitative, two-year project but need to secure funding first."
Edited by irc on Wednesday 8th December 11:21
irc said:
"A total of 36 autistic dog owners were recruited for the study and quizzed on their relationship with their canine pet as well as how it impacted their mental wellbeing.
Six of the people in the study (16.7 per cent) said their dogs prevented them from ending their own lives. Around one in 100 people in the UK have autism, and a quarter of all adults own a dog.
Based on these assumptions, dog ownership would be responsible for preventing around 135,000 suicides among autistic adults in the UK alone, the researchers state in their study, published today in Scientific Reports. "
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/12/08/dogs-p...
To get a perspective the England and Wales suicide rate is 5000 per year.
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-brie...
So as the total of suicides among non dog owning autistic people is less than 5000 there is no way dog ownership can prevent 135000 suicides. Am I too stupid to be a scientist?
Maybe the answer is
"The researchers are now hoping to build on the findings and perform a quantitative, two-year project but need to secure funding first."
Lies, damn lies and statistics Six of the people in the study (16.7 per cent) said their dogs prevented them from ending their own lives. Around one in 100 people in the UK have autism, and a quarter of all adults own a dog.
Based on these assumptions, dog ownership would be responsible for preventing around 135,000 suicides among autistic adults in the UK alone, the researchers state in their study, published today in Scientific Reports. "
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/12/08/dogs-p...
To get a perspective the England and Wales suicide rate is 5000 per year.
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-brie...
So as the total of suicides among non dog owning autistic people is less than 5000 there is no way dog ownership can prevent 135000 suicides. Am I too stupid to be a scientist?
Maybe the answer is
"The researchers are now hoping to build on the findings and perform a quantitative, two-year project but need to secure funding first."
Edited by irc on Wednesday 8th December 11:21
1. It doesn't say per year. It's estimating the number of people in the UK who, but for their dogs, would have killed themselves at some point.
2. We know how many people kill themselves each year in the UK. That doesn't tell us anything about how many people would have killed themselves were it not for their - dog/rabbit/children/spouse/parents/friends/hobby/vocation/faith/music/antidepressants/CBT/whatever.
The vast majority of people do not kill themselves each year. The vast majority of people who have suicidal thoughts do not kill themselves each year. The reasons they choose not to kill themselves are many.
2. We know how many people kill themselves each year in the UK. That doesn't tell us anything about how many people would have killed themselves were it not for their - dog/rabbit/children/spouse/parents/friends/hobby/vocation/faith/music/antidepressants/CBT/whatever.
The vast majority of people do not kill themselves each year. The vast majority of people who have suicidal thoughts do not kill themselves each year. The reasons they choose not to kill themselves are many.
Cant speak for the stats in question but can say it is not just autistic people that dogs save. A friend of mine has had a run of awful luck the last few years and numerous times has been on the brink of ending it all, the thing that has stopped him every time is the thought of his dogs suffering because of it.
Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff