Key points Are American healthcare workers at higher risk of suicide than non-healthcare workers? Findings From a nationally representative cohort of approximately 1.84 million employed adults observed between 2008 and 2019 and controlling for potentially confounding sociodemographic characteristics, suicide risk was higher for healthcare workers compared to non-healthcare workers , including specifically registered nurses, healthcare support staff, healthcare workers and technicians. Meaning The increased risk of suicide for registered nurses, healthcare support workers and healthcare technicians highlights the need for concerted efforts to support their mental health. |
Importance
The historically elevated risks of suicide among physicians may have decreased in recent decades. However, there remains a paucity of information about suicide risks among other healthcare workers.
Aim
Estimating the risks of death by suicide among US healthcare workers.
Design, environment and participants
Cohort study of a nationally representative sample of 2008 American Community Survey workers (N = 1,842,000) linked to National Death Index records through December 31, 2019.
Main results and measures
Age- and sex-standardized suicide rates were estimated for 6 groups of healthcare workers (physicians, registered nurses, other healthcare professionals, diagnosing or treating, healthcare technicians, healthcare support workers, social/behavioral health workers) and non-health workers.
Cox models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for suicide for healthcare workers compared to non-healthcare workers using HRs adjusted for age, sex, race and ethnicity, marital status, education, and urban/rural residence.
Results
The annual standardized suicide rates per 100,000 people (mean age, 44 [IQR, 35-53] years; 32.4% women [among physicians] and 91.1% [among registered nurses]) were 21.4 (CI 95%, 15.4-27.4) for health care support workers, 16.0 (95% CI, 9.4-22.6) for registered nurses, 15.6 (95% CI, 9.4-22.6) , 10.9-20.4) for health technicians, 13.1 (95% CI, 7.9-18.2) for physicians, 10.1 (95% CI, 7.9-18.2 ) CI, 6.0-14.3) for social/behavioral health workers, 7.6 (95% CI, 3.7-11.5) for other health care professionals who diagnose or treat, and 12. 6 (95% CI, 12.1-13.1) for non-healthcare workers.
Adjusted risks of suicide were increased for general healthcare workers (adjusted HR, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.13-1.54]), healthcare support workers (adjusted HR, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.13-1.54]), 81 [95% CI, 1.35-2.42]), registered nurses (adjusted HR, 1.64 [95% CI, 1.21-2.23]), and health technicians (adjusted HR, 1. 39 [95% CI,
Conclusions Compared to non-healthcare workers , registered nurses, EMTs, and healthcare support workers in the US had a higher risk of suicide. New programmatic efforts are needed to protect the mental health of these American healthcare workers. |
