Monash University report identifies occupations with greater risk of suicide
A Monash University study has found that a significant number of workers are at increased risk of suicide due to their occupation.
Concerning rates of suicide are prevalent in farmers, construction workers, ambulance and fire services, veterinarians, entertainers, artists and the transport industry – as well as in female doctors and male nurses.
The study – led by Dr Rosalind Case, from the Monash University Paramedic Health and Wellbeing Research Unit– reviewed more than 60 international studies into prevalence data for suicide death, ideation and attempts. The researchers looked at occupational suicide rates and the efficacy of suicide prevention programs targeted to specific types of jobs. The report has been published by The Sax Institute.
The report concluded that “there is an urgent need for high quality evidence regarding the effectiveness of suicide prevention programs………(so that) appropriately targeted programs and interventions (can) provide the best chance of reducing suicide rates among workforce(s).”
More than 3000 suicides were recorded in Australia in 2018, with an average age of 44.
The risk of suicide is more prevalent in occupations where there is a high job demand, low autonomy or control, shift work, physical danger and access to lethal means of suicide such as guns (see below list for more specific details).
The authors of the study also state that certain personalities drawn to particular jobs – with socioeconomic, personality, mental health, substance use and demographic factors making people more at risk of suicide.
According to Monash University’s Professor Karen Smith, another lead study author who is also the Director of the Centre for Research and Evaluation at Ambulance Victoria (AV), said while there are suicide prevention and intervention programs targeted at different occupations, “there is significant variation in the types of approaches that have been used, and little is known about the effectiveness of these programs,” she said.
“Towards Zero Suicides” is one of the NSW Premier’s Priorities, with the aim to reduce the rate of suicide deaths in NSW by 20 per cent by 2023. In 2017, 880 people died of suicide in NSW and it is the leading cause of death for people aged 15-44 years.
Dr Kelly-Ann Bowles, also a led author and the Director of the Paramedic Health and Wellbeing Unit based in the Department of Paramedicine, commented that assessing the current evidence was a major priority for their research unit as they try to better understand the health and wellbeing challenges for paramedics to work towards a healthy paramedic workforce that can provide optimal care to the community.
SUICIDE RISK BY OCCUPATION
Farming and Agriculture: People in this category have more access to lethal means. A study of suicide in Queensland farmers found that farmer suicide rates in the age group 34-55 years was far higher than in the same age group in non-farmers in that state.
In NSW the highest suicide rate amongst farmers was in the North-West regions, followed by the Mid North Coast and South Eastern regions.
Veterinarians: The suicide rate amongst vets is twice as high than in other health disciplines- and four times higher than the general population, with again increased access to lethal means considered a reason, with 80 per cent of cases in Australia involving self-poisoning with a drug used to euthanaise animals.
Medical Practitioners: Female medical doctors are more likely to commit suicide than their male counterparts, with self-poisoning the most common lethal means. Relationship problems were the most frequently noted life events prior to suicide in both groups. The authors suggest that this discrepancy may “reflect gender role stress experienced by women in medical and nursing professions such as institutionalised barriers to career advancement, as well as additional pressure to undertake domestic labour and caregiving roles.”
Nursing and Midwifery: Suicide risk is higher for nurses and midwives than those in other occupations. Male nurses and midwives are at particular risk, with “occupational gender norms and anxiety about perceived stigma …a potential risk factor for male nurses and midwives, due to the traditionally feminised characterisation of such roles,” the report said.
Paramedics: The report comments that there is a paucity of information on suicide risk in paramedics in Australia and internationally. It is an area that the Paramedic Health and Wellbeing Research Unit is currently investigating.
Firefighters: Again, there is a lack of information on suicide risk amongst firefighters in Australia
Law Enforcement: While international data indicates increased risk of suicidality among police and correctional workers – with suicide rates in the US up to 69 per cent higher than the general population - Australasian studies have found no significant increase in police suicide rates compared to the general population. However, there is an increased risk for correctional officers.
Construction: Those in lower-skilled roles in Australian construction, such as machinists and labourers, had significantly higher suicide rates than skilled workers, with the risk of suicide amongst lower skilled construction workers almost double that of other occupations.
Creative Industries: UK studies have shown that artists, musicians, actors, entertainers and media presenters of both genders have a higher risk of suicide than the general population – an Australian study found that rates of suicide ideation, planning and attempts were six times increased for ideation, four times increased risk for planning and twice as likely to attempt suicide, and twice as likely than those in the general population for workers in the entertainment industries.
| Report can be found at: https://www.saxinstitute.org.au/publications/evidence-check-library/suicide-prevention-in-high-risk-occupations/ |
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