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Published on: January 15, 2017
Suicidal ideation, suicide planning, and suicide attempt among nurses
1University of Texas at Arlington, College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arlington, TX.
Nursing Outlook
|November 30, 2025
Summary
Nurses face a high risk of suicidal ideation and attempts, with prevalence rates varying significantly. Addressing nurse suicide requires accelerated research and proactive interventions.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Research
- Mental Health Science
- Public Health Surveillance
Background:
- Global data indicates nurses are at a disproportionately high risk for suicide.
- Understanding the scope of suicidal ideation and behaviors among nurses is critical.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the existing scientific literature on suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts among nurses worldwide.
- To synthesize current evidence on the prevalence and associated factors of suicide-related outcomes in the nursing profession.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was performed across CINAHL Complete, PsycINFO, and PubMed databases.
- Keywords included MeSH terms related to suicidal ideation, suicide planning, and suicide attempts in nurses.
- Ninety-eight articles published globally were included in the final analysis.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of lifetime suicidal ideation among nurses ranged from 7% to 44.5%, and historic ideation among decedents was 36.6% to 38.3%.
- Lifetime suicide attempts were reported by 3.2% to 13.5% of living nurses, with historic attempts among decedents ranging from 27.3% to 76%.
- Factors such as mental/physical health issues, burnout, and workplace bullying were associated with increased risk.
Conclusions:
- Nurses may experience higher rates of suicidal ideation and attempts compared to the general population.
- Standardized surveillance and accelerated research are crucial for accurate comparisons and trend analysis.
- Proactive screening, early intervention, and public/private sector engagement are vital for mitigating nurse suicide risk.
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