The suicide risk of New Zealand nurses, rather than doctors, has been highlighted by an Otago University study into occupational groups and suicide rates.
According to www.safeguard.co.nz , the researchers examined identified occupational groups in New Zealand over a period of three decades, focusing on groups predicted to have high suicide rates because of access to and familiarity with particular methods of suicide. (WCxKit)
Groups of interest were dentists, doctors, farmers and farm workers, hunters and cullers, military personnel, nurses, pharmacists, police and veterinarians.
The results, published in the journal of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2010; 44:429-434, showed that few of those occupations had high risks of suicide. Not only was suicide risk not elevated in most of the occupational groups studied, but it was found to be low among male doctors and veterinarians.
However standardized mortality ratios were elevated for nurses, hunters and cullers, and female pharmacists. Access to the means appeared to have influenced the method chosen. Nurses, doctors and pharmacists were up to five times more likely to use poisoning, while farmers and hunters were more than twice as likely to use firearms.
The study said the risk of suicide among New Zealand nurses of both sexes was noteworthy, and it was ironic that so much more attention was given to suicide among doctors.
It concluded that those providing medical care for nurses, female pharmacists, and hunters and cullers needed to be aware of the risk of suicide.
In a Danish case control study of suicide, nurses stood out as a high risk occupational group among those who died by suicide but had never had a psychiatric admission. This raised the question as to whether the perceived stigma of psychiatric illness impinged on help-seeking among nurses.
In a prospective study of female U.S. nurses, it was reported that stress at home and at work was related to their suicide up to 14 years later.
A Canadian study recently concluded that for most occupations your job does not increase your risk of suicide. An Institute for Work & Health research team found no consistent evidence that specific occupations have a higher risk of death due to suicide.
The study results published in the June 2010 issue of The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry (vol.55, no.6), noted only a limited number of associations between occupational groups and suicide risk. It was suggested the characteristics of specific occupations did not substantially influence risk for suicide. (WCxKit)
The researchers had found some higher rates of suicide for men in occupational groups including nursing, therapy, farm, horticulture, forestry, excavating, transport operation, library, museum or archival services. Occupations included in women’s elevated rates of suicide were office machine operating and metal machining.
Author Rebecca Shafer, JD, President of Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. is a national expert in the field of workers compensation. She is a writer, speaker and website publisher. Her expertise is working with employers to reduce workers compensation costs, and her clients include airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. Contact: RShafer@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
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NEWSLETTER: Workers Comp Resource Center Newsletter
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Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
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