Related Experiment Videos
Suicide among social workers in Rhode Island
1Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH.
Journal of Occupational Medicine. : Official Publication of the Industrial Medical Association
|March 1, 1988
Summary
This study found a significantly elevated risk of suicide among social workers, both male and female. Further research is needed to understand the contributing factors to this occupational health concern.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Occupational Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Investigating cause-specific mortality patterns by occupation is crucial for identifying high-risk groups.
- Previous research has not specifically identified social workers as a population with elevated suicide risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine cause-specific mortality patterns among Rhode Island residents from 1968-1978.
- To identify potential occupational risks for mortality, particularly suicide.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the age-standardized proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) method.
- Analyzed occupation data from death certificates of Rhode Island residents who died between 1968 and 1978.
Main Results:
- An elevated proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) for suicide was observed in both male (PMR = 470) and female (PMR = 510) social workers.
- The findings represent the first reported association between social work and increased suicide risk.
Conclusions:
- Social work may be associated with an increased risk of suicide, potentially linked to occupational stress.
- This exploratory study highlights the need for further investigation into the mental health outcomes of social workers due to small sample sizes and data limitations.