CDC: Suicide rates vary widely by industry and occupation

Cora Peterson

Suicide rates vary by industry and occupation, with individuals in specific groups within these categories experiencing higher rates compared with the general population, according to study findings published in MMWR.

“Against a backdrop of a 40% increase in suicide in the United States working-age population within the past two decades, all industries and occupations can benefit from a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention,” Cora Peterson, PhD, of the division of injury prevention at the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, told Healio Psychiatry. “Suicide in the U.S. working-age population is increasing, and it appears suicide is more frequent among employees in some occupations and working within particular industries."

According to a CDC report, nearly 38,000 individuals of working age died by suicide in the United States in 2017. Peterson noted that previous research indicates suicide risk is associated with lower education, low-skilled work, lower absolute and relative socioeconomic status, work-related access to lethal means and job stress, including poor supervisory and colleague support, job insecurity and low job control.

To inform suicide prevention by calculating suicide rates for major industry and occupational groups and detailed occupational groups, the researchers analyzed data from 32 states included in the 2016 National Violent Death Reporting System. Specifically, they looked at suicide data by industry and occupation among working-age decedents presumed to be employed at the time of death.

Peterson and colleagues found that suicide rates were significantly higher in five major industry groups compared with rates in the total study population. These were as follows:

• Men working in mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction;

• men working in construction;

• men working in other services, including automotive repair;

• men working in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting; and

• men and women working in transportation in warehousing.

They also found significantly higher rates in six major occupational groups:

• Men and women working in construction and extraction;

• men working in installation, maintenance and repair;

• men working in arts, design, entertainment, sports and media;

• men and women working in transportation and material moving;

• women working in protective service; and

• women working in health care support.

Regarding detailed occupational groups, male fishing and hunting workers had the highest suicide rate, followed by musicians, singers and related workers. Male drivers/sales workers and truck drivers experienced the lowest suicide rate. Artists and related workers experienced the highest suicide rate among women, followed by laborers and freight, stock and material movers. Female registered nurses had the lowest rate.

“This report’s comprehensive approach to reporting suicide rates by industry and occupation may engage employers and others in directing attention and resources to suicide prevention activities in the workplace and wider community," Peterson said. "Workplace-specific suicide prevention strategies for employers and industry and professional associations include encouraging people to seek help and integrating workplace safety and health and wellness programs to advance the overall well-being of workers."

Peterson also noted that the CDC’s Preventing Suicide: A Technical Package of Policy, Programs and Practices "can help states and communities prioritize prevention efforts and address persistent upward trends in suicide rates."he authors report no relevant financial disclosures. – by Joe Gramigna

Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.