Lithium can be found naturally in drinking water. In clinical practice, it
is widely used in pharmacological doses for the treatment of bipolar
disorder; and may also prevent suicidal behaviour in people with mood
disorders. In two studies, lithium levels in tap water have been
significantly and negatively correlated with suicide. We measured lithium
levels in tap water in the 47 subdivisions of the East of England and
correlated these with the respective suicide standardised mortality ratio in
each subdivision. We found no association between lithium in drinking water
and suicide rates across the East of England from 2006 to 2008.