Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-68c7f8b79f-kpv4p Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-12-20T19:23:20.539Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 10 - Suicide and Occupation

from Section 2 - Specific Challenges in Preventing Suicide

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2025

Rob Poole
Affiliation:
Bangor University
Murad M. Khan
Affiliation:
Aga Khan University
Catherine A. Robinson
Affiliation:
University of Manchester
Get access

Summary

Beyond the demographic factors of socio-economic disadvantage, inequality and unemployment, some occupations have been historically linked with higher rates of suicide deaths. These include: the armed forces, farmers, healthcare workers (including doctors), and “blue light” emergency workers, or “first responders,” for example, police, ambulance, rescue and fire personnel. Where available, the chapter draws upon systematic reviews and meta-analyses to discuss the evidence in specific occupational groups; the risk indicators and protective factors for suicide at individual, organisational and systemic level; and potential interventions over the course of a worker’s career. Understanding occupational risk factors over the career span from recruitment, self-selection and selection, through work environments and cultures, occupational trauma and stresses, could yield strategies for more generalisable suicide prevention at a population level as well as reducing rates in specific occupations.

Information

Type
Chapter
Information
Preventing Suicide
An Evidence-Based Approach
, pp. 123 - 136
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2026

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Book purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Roberts, SE, Jaremin, B, Lloyd, K. High-risk occupations for suicide. Psychological Medicine. 2013; 43(6): 1231–40.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Milner, A, Spittal, M, Pirkis, J, et al. Suicide risk by occupation: Systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Psychiatry. 2013; 203: 409–16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
HM Government. Preventing Suicide in England: Fourth Progress Report of the Cross-government Outcomes Strategy to Save Lives. 2019. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5c459a9de5274a6e40f38fc1/national-suicide-prevention-strategy-4th-progress-report.pdf.Google Scholar
Klingelschmidt, J, Milner, A, Khireddine-Medouni, I, et al. Suicide among agricultural, forestry, and fishery workers: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2018; 44(1): 315.10.5271/sjweh.3682CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
National Crime Records Bureau. Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India. New Delhi: Ministry of Home Affairs; 2020.Google Scholar
UK Ministry of Defence. Suicides in the UK Regular Armed Forces: Annual Summary and Trends over Time 1 January 1984 to 31 December 2021. London: UK Ministry of Defence; 2022.Google Scholar
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, Science and Technology. Military Suicide Prevention: Report Prepared for NATO Leadership. Salisbury: STO NATO; 2018.Google Scholar
Kapur, N, While, D, Blatchley, N, et al. Suicide after leaving the UK Armed Forces: A cohort study. PLoS Medicine. 2009; 6(3): e1000026.10.1371/journal.pmed.1000026CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schernhammer, ES, Colditz, GA. Suicide rates among physicians: A quantitative and gender assessment (meta-analysis). American Journal of Psychiatry. 2004; 161: 2295–302.10.1176/appi.ajp.161.12.2295CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lindeman, S, Laara, E, Hakko, H, et al. A systematic review on gender-specific suicide mortality in medical doctors. British Journal of Psychiatry. 1996; 168(3): 274–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hawton, K. Suicide in doctors: A study of risk according to gender, seniority and speciality in medical practitioners in England and Wales 1979–1995. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2001; 55(5): 296300.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Office for National Statistics. Suicide by Occupation, England: 2011 to 2015. ONS; 2017.Google Scholar
Dutheil, F, Aubert, C, Pereira, B, et al. Suicide among physicians and health-care workers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2019 December; 14(12): e0226361.10.1371/journal.pone.0226361CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Loo, R. A meta-analysis of police suicide rates: Findings and issues. Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior. 2003; 33(3): 313–25.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stanley, IH, Hom, MA, Joiner, TE, et al. A systematic review of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among police officers, firefighters, EMTs and paramedics. Clinical Psychology Review. 2016; 44(3): 2544.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Malmberg, A, Hawton, K, Simkin, S. A study of suicide in farmers in England and Wales. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 1997; 43(1): 107–11.10.1016/S0022-3999(97)00114-1CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kennedy, A, Brumby, S, Versace, VL, et al. Online assessment of suicide stigma, literacy and effect in Australia’s rural farming community. BMC Public Health. 2018; 18(1): 846.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Woollacott, R. Walking with Farmers and Talking about Suicidal Feelings: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Bristol: University of the West of England; 2020.Google Scholar
Williamson, V, Greenberg, N, Murphy, D. Predictors of moral injury in UK treatment seeking veterans. Child Abuse and Neglect. 2021 February; 112: 104889.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
US Government. Reducing Military and Veteran Suicide: Advancing a Comprehensive, Cross-Sector, Evidence-Informed Public Health Strategy. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office; 2021.Google Scholar
Gerada, C. Doctors, suicide and mental illness. BJPsych Bulletin. 2018; 42(4): 165–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Meltzer, H, Griffiths, C, Brock, A, et al. Patterns of suicide by occupation in England and Wales: 2001–2005. British Journal of Psychiatry 2008; 193(1): 73–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kinman, G, Teoh, K. What Could Make a Difference to the Mental Health of UK Doctors? A Review of the Research Evidence. Society of Occupational Medicine; 2018. www.som.org.uk/sites/som.org.uk/files/What_could_make_a_difference_to_the_mental_health_of_UK_doctors_LTF_SOM.pdf.10.53841/bpsopm.2018.1.40.15CrossRefGoogle Scholar
National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health (NCISH). Suicide by Female Nurses: A Brief Report. Manchester: University of Manchester; 2020.Google Scholar
MIND. Wellbeing and Mental Health Support in the Emergency Services. London: MIND UK; 2020.Google Scholar
Jones, S, Nagela, C, McSweeney, J, et al. Prevalence and correlates of psychiatric symptoms among first responders in a Southern State. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing. 2018; 32(6): 828–35.10.1016/j.apnu.2018.06.007CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stevelink, S, Opie, E, Pernet, D, et al. Probable PTSD, depression and anxiety in 40,299 UK police officers and staff: Prevalence, risk factors and associations with blood pressure. PLoS One 2020; 15(11): e0240902.10.1371/journal.pone.0240902CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Riblet, V, Shiner, B, Young-Xu, Y, et al. Strategies to prevent death by suicide: Meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Br J Psych. 2017; 210: 396402.10.1192/bjp.bp.116.187799CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McDonnell, S, Nelson, PA, Leonard, S, et al. Evaluation of the impact of the PABBS suicide bereavement training on clinicians’ knowledge and skills: A pilot study. Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention. 2020; 10: 18.Google Scholar
Bowersox, NW, Jagusch, J, Garlick, J, et al. Peer based interventions targeting suicide prevention: A scoping review. American Journal of Community Psychology. 2021; 689(1–2): 232–48.Google Scholar
HM Government. Preventing Suicide in England: Fifth Progress Report of the Cross-government Outcomes Strategy to Save Lives. London: HMSO; 2021. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/605e4ef48fa8f53927b08b2e/fifth-suicide-prevention-strategy-progress-report.pdf.Google Scholar
Perceval, M, Reddy, P, Ross, V, et al. Evaluation of the SCARF wellbeing and suicide prevention programme for rural Australian communities. Journal of Rural Health 2020; 36(2): 247–54.10.1111/jrh.12373CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hawton, K, et al. Methods used for suicide by farmers in England and Wales: The contribution of availability and its relevance to prevention. British Journal of Psychiatry. 1998; 173(10): 320–4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bonvoisin, T, Utyasheva, L, Knipe, D, et al. Suicide by pesticide poisoning in India: A review of pesticide regulations and their impact on suicide trends. BMC Public Health. 2020; 20(1): 251.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Knox, KL, Pflanz, S, Talcott, GW, et al. The US Air Force suicide prevention program: Implications for public health policy. American Journal of Public Health. 2010; 100(12): 2457–63.10.2105/AJPH.2009.159871CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brooks, S, Gerada, C, Chalder, T. The specific needs of doctors with mental health problems: Qualitative analysis of doctor-patients’ experiences with the Practitioner Health Programme. J Ment Health. 2017; 26(2): 161–6.10.1080/09638237.2016.1244712CrossRefGoogle Scholar
HM Government. Preventing Suicide in England: Fifth Progress Report of the Cross-government Outcomes Strategy to Save Lives. 2021. London: HMSO; 2021. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/605e4ef48fa8f53927b08b2e/fifth-suicide-prevention-strategy-progress-report.pdf.Google Scholar
General Medical Council. Fair to Refer: Reducing Disproportionality in Fitness to Practice Concerns Reported to the GMC. 2019. www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/fair-to-refer-report_pdf-79011677.pdf.Google Scholar
Dave, A, Bhatti, N, Geddes, R. Does a narrow definition of medical professionalism lead to systemic bias and differential outcomes? Journal of Health Policy & Opinion. 2021; 14: 112.Google Scholar
Torry, R, Kinman, G. Responding to the Death by Suicide of a Colleague in Primary Care. Louise Tebboth Foundation. www.som.org.uk/sites/som.org.uk/files/LTF_SOM_Responding_to_the_death_by_suicide_of_a_colleague_in_Primary_Care.pdf.Google Scholar
Mishara, B, Fortin, L. Long term effects of a police suicide prevention programme. Crisis: Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention. 2022; 43: 234–43.10.1027/0227-5910/a000774CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MIND. Wellbeing and Mental Health Support in the Emergency Services. 2023. www.mind.org.uk/media-a/4572/20046_mind-blue-light-programme-legacy-report-v12_online.pdf.Google Scholar
Finney, E, Buser, S, Schwartz, J, et al. Suicide prevention in fire service: The Houston Fire Department (HFD) model. Aggression and Violent Behaviour. 2015; 21: 14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gerada, C. The Wounded Healer: Report on the First 10 Years of Practitioner Health Service. Practitioner Health Programme; 2018. www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/media/content/files/PHP-report-web%20version%20final%20copy.pdf.Google Scholar
Health and Safety Executive. Tackling Work-Related Stress Using the Management Standards Approach: A Step-by-Step Approach. 2019. www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/wbk01.htm.Google Scholar
Niederkrotenthaler, T, Voracek, M, Herberth, A, et al. Role of media reports in completed and prevented suicide: Werther v. Papageno effects. British Journal of Psychiatry. 2010; 197: 234–43.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
World Health Organization. Preventing Suicide: A Resource for Media Professionals. September 2017. www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-MSD-MER-17.5.Google Scholar
General Medical Council. Doctors Who Commit Suicide while under GMC Fitness to Practise Investigation. 2014. www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/Internal_review_into_suicide_in_FTP_processes.pdf_59088696.pdf.Google Scholar

Accessibility standard: Unknown

Why this information is here

This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.

Accessibility Information

Accessibility compliance for the PDF of this book is currently unknown and may be updated in the future.

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×