[Suicides in agriculture: a cross-population analysis based on Bavarian police crime statistics]

According to international studies, people employed in agriculture are at increased risk of suicide. To date, there is little evidence on this subject for Germany. The aim of this study was to estimate, on the basis of secondary data, the suicide rates among people in agriculture-related occupations (green occupations) compared with the rest of the population.

A population-based descriptive study using age- and sex-specific aggregated data from the Bavarian Police Crime Statistics (PCS) on suicides between 2017 and 2024. The PCS classifies suicide cases according to the primary occupation. Various population statistics were used as the reference populations; due to methodological uncertainties in these populations, the calculated suicide rates should be interpreted as estimates.

During the study period, 463 suicides were recorded among individuals primarily employed in green occupations (an average of 57.9 ± 14.7 cases per year). The estimated suicide rates were significantly higher than those of the rest of the population, both overall and by sex and age. Among men aged 18 to 59-the group with the most reliable data-the suicide rate was 3.4 times higher (95% CI (confidence interval): 2.9-4.0). Even when using expanded populations and allowing for underreporting in the population, a suicide rate at least 50% higher remained robust.

The increased risk is consistent with international studies. The Bavarian PCS provides, for the first time in a major German federal state, an estimate of elevated suicide rates among those primarily employed in green occupations. Limitations include the limited depth of the PCS data and a possible underreporting of full-time employees outside the family in the reference data used. The findings should be confirmed with other data. Causal factors were not investigated. Suicide prevention measures appear warranted.