lamontagne-suicidebyoccupation-2013.pdf (345.88 kB)
Suicide by occupation: systematic review and meta-analysis
journal contribution
posted on 2013-01-01, 00:00 authored by Allison Milner, M Spittal, J Pirkis, Tony LaMontagneTony LaMontagneBackground Previous research has shown that those employed in certain occupations, such as doctors and farmers, have an elevated risk of suicide, yet little research has sought to synthesise these findings across working-age populations. Aims To summarise published research in this area through systematic review and meta-analysis. Method Random effects meta-analyses were used to calculate a pooled risk of suicide across occupational skill-level groups. Results Thirty-four studies were included in the meta-analysis. Elementary professions (e.g. labourers and cleaners) were at elevated risk compared with the working-age population (rate ratio (RR) = 1.84, 95% CI 1.46-2.33), followed by machine operators and deck crew (RR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.22-2.60) and agricultural workers (RR = 1.64, 95% CI 1.19-2.28). Results suggested a stepwise gradient in risk, with the lowest skilled occupations being at greater risk of suicide than the highest skill-level group. Conclusions This is the first comprehensive meta-analytical review of suicide and occupation. There is a need for future studies to investigate explanations for the observed skill-level differences, particularly in people employed in lower skill-level groups.
History
Journal
British journal of psychiatryVolume
203Issue
6Pagination
409 - 416Publisher
The Royal College of PsychiatristsLocation
London, UKPublisher DOI
ISSN
1472-1465eISSN
0007-1250Language
engNotes
Review ArticlePublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal; C Journal articleUsage metrics
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