Male suicide and occupation in Scotland

Some occupational groups in England and Wales have higher than expected proportion of deaths from suicide or undetermined intent. This study examined the association of occupation with suicide in men in, Scotland. Information from the General Register Office for Scotland was used to identify deaths from suicide and undetermined intent in 1981-1999 for men aged 16-64 years. Proportional Mortality Ratios (PMRs) and 95 per cent confidence intervals were calculated for all occupational categories. The largest number of male deaths in groups with elevated PMRs occurred in low paying occupations, such as labourers. Counterhands (sales and stores assistants) and assistants and chefs and cooks had increased PMRs in the 16-45 year age group. Some occupations with access to lethal means of suicide had high PMRs, including medical practitioners in the 16-45 and 46-64 year age groups and hospital ward orderlies, in the younger age group. There were increased PMRs in some rural occupations including farmers, forestry workers, fishermen, and some ships' crewmembers. Groups with low