The DOI matches its Crossref record; 73 of the 75 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Suicide by occupation: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Open accessAbstract
Background: Previous research has shown that those employed in certain occupations, such as doctors and farmers, have an elevated risk of suicide, yet little research has sought to synthesise these findings across working-age populations. Aims: To summarise published research in this area through systematic review and meta-analysis. Method: Random effects meta-analyses were used to calculate a pooled risk of suicide across occupational skill-level groups. Results: Thirty-four studies were included in the meta-analysis. Elementary professions (e.g. labourers and cleaners) were at elevated risk compared with the working-age population (rate ratio (RR) = 1.84, 95% CI 1.46–2.33), followed by machine operators and deck crew (RR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.22–2.60) and agricultural workers (RR = 1.64, 95% CI 1.19–2.28). Results suggested a stepwise gradient in risk, with the lowest skilled occupations being at greater risk of suicide than the highest skill-level group. Conclusions: This is the first comprehensive meta-analytical review of suicide and occupation. There is a need for future studies to investigate explanations for the observed skill-level differences, particularly in people employed in lower skill-level groups. Declaration on interest: None.
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“People in unskilled professions have an increased risk of suicide, which is partly explained by greater psychosocial stress; however, people in professions with access to lethal means for suicide have high rates, such as farmers, nurses, veterinarians, physicians, and police.29”
From Suicide (2020) · cites this paper as [29]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Milner, A., Spittal, M. J., Pirkis, J., & LaMontagne, A. D.
- Affiliations
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Milner, Allison
- Venue
- British Journal of Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Published
- 2013-12
- Volume
- 203
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 409-416
- ISSN
- 0007-1250 (ISSN-L)
- 1472-1465
- OpenAlex
- W2159544002
- Cited by
- 387
- References
- 75
- Citations by year
- 2026: 22 · 2025: 41 · 2024: 42 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 46 · 2021: 39 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 39 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 2.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- The British Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Own your potential (DEAKIN) (submittedVersion)
- Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Medical Research Council
- National Health and Medical Research Council (546248)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Workplace Health and Well-being
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse
- Keywords
- suicide, occupational risk, occupational skill level, low-skilled workers, agricultural labor, machine operators, labourers, working-age population
- MeSH terms
- Employment, Humans, Occupations, Regression Analysis, Risk Factors, Social Class, Suicide, Odds Ratio, Sex Distribution
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