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People who are unemployed are more likely to commit suicide when the economy is stable because of the greater stigma attached to being jobless, the Daily Mail reports.

During a recession not having a job is more common, and so those on the dole do not feel such psychological pressure.

A new study, carried out by scientists at the University of Zurich, found 45,000 suicides a year are attributable to unemployment.

Of those, just 5,000 a year were directly linked to the recession, which took hold in 2008.

The first study of its kind analysed suicide rates and economic performance in 63 countries over an 11-year period.

The researchers are today calling for governments across the world to tackle the negative mental health effects of unemployment during boom times, as well as during recession.

Dr Carlos Nordt, of the university's Psychiatric Hospital, said: 'Our findings reveal that the suicide rate increases six months before a rise in unemployment.

'What is more, our data suggests that not all job losses necessarily have an equal impact, as the effect on suicide risk appears to be stronger in countries where being out of work is uncommon.

'It is possible that an unexpected increase in the unemployment rate may trigger greater fears and insecurity than in countries with higher pre-crisis unemployment levels.'