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LaMontagne AD, Åberg M, Blomqvist S, Glozier N, Greiner BA, Gullestrup J, Harvey SB, Kyron MJ, Madsen IEH, Hanson LM, Maheen H, Mustard C, Niedhammer I, Rugulies R, Smith PM, Taouk Y, Waters S, Witt K, King TL. Work-related suicide: Evolving understandings of etiology & intervention. Am J Ind Med 2024; 67:679-695. [PMID: 38853462 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Previously published analyses of suicide case investigations suggest that work or working conditions contribute to 10%-13% of suicide deaths. Yet, the way in which work may increase suicide risk is an underdeveloped area of epidemiologic research. In this Commentary, we propose a definition of work-related suicide from an occupational health and safety perspective, and review the case investigation-based and epidemiologic evidence on work-related causes of suicide. We identified six broad categories of potential work-related causes of suicide, which are: (1) workplace chemical, physical, and psychosocial exposures; (2) exposure to trauma on the job; (3) access to means of suicide through work; (4) exposure to high-stigma work environments; (5) exposure to normative environments promoting extreme orientation to work; and (6) adverse experiences arising from work-related injury or illness. We summarise current evidence in a schema of potential work-related causes that can also be applied in workplace risk assessment and suicide case investigations. There are numerous implications of these findings for policy and practice. Various principle- and evidence-based workplace intervention strategies for suicide prevention exist, some of which have been shown to improve suicide-prevention literacy, reduce stigma, enhance helping behaviours, and in some instances maybe even reduce suicide rates. Prevailing practice in workplace suicide prevention, however, overly emphasises individual- and illness-directed interventions, with little attention directed to addressing the working conditions that may increase suicide risk. We conclude that a stronger emphasis on improving working conditions will be required for workplace suicide prevention to reach its full preventive potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony D LaMontagne
- Institute for Health Transformation & School of Health & Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Maria Åberg
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sandra Blomqvist
- Department of Psychology, Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nick Glozier
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Jorgen Gullestrup
- Institute for Health Transformation & School of Health & Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Samuel B Harvey
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michael J Kyron
- Suicide Prevention and Resilience Research Center (SPARRC), School of Psychological Science, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Ida E H Madsen
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
- National Institute of Public Health, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Linda Magnusson Hanson
- Department of Psychology, Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Humaira Maheen
- Centre for Health Policy, Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Isabelle Niedhammer
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Univ Angers, Angers, France
| | - Reiner Rugulies
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter M Smith
- Instutute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yamna Taouk
- Centre for Health Policy, Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sarah Waters
- School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Katrina Witt
- Orygen Centre for Youth Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tania L King
- Centre for Health Policy, Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Nie J, O'Neil A, Liao B, Lu C, Aune D, Wang Y. Risk factors for completed suicide in the general population: A prospective cohort study of 242, 952 people. J Affect Disord 2021; 282:707-711. [PMID: 33445097 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.12.132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The estimated global burden of suicide is almost 1 million deaths per year, representing 57% of all violent deaths worldwide. In order to better identify at risk individuals and develop effective prevention strategies at the population level, a comprehensive understanding of the biological, psychological and social risk factors is required. METHOD Data from the National Health Interview Survey (1997- 2004) were analyzed. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to compute hazard ratios (HRs) and accompanying 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS During a mean 6.3 years of follow-up of 242, 952 people (1.56 million person-years), 180 deaths due to suicide occurred. Of 18 risk factors, eight revealed associations with suicide. Participants who had never been married (HR, 2.58; 95% CI, 1.44-4.62), current smokers (HR, 2.26; 1.49-3.43), current drinkers (HR, 1.93; 1.14-3.27]), participants with serious psychological distress (HR, 3.34; 1.81-6.18), and a history of emphysema (HR, 2.79; 1.18-6.59), liver disease (HR, 4.63; 2.10-10.20), kidney disease (HR, 2.26; 1.00-5.06) and cancer (HR, 2.18; 1.32-3.59) were at increased risk of completed suicide. LIMITATIONS Due to the observational nature of this study, we cannot exclude the possibility of reverse or bi-directional causality. CONCLUSIONS This large, prospective cohort study identified a series of biopsychosocial risk factors that may have utility in suicide prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Nie
- Department of Sociology & Institute for Empirical Social Science Research, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Adrienne O'Neil
- The Centre for Innovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Treatment, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Australia
| | - Bing Liao
- School of Nursing, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chuntian Lu
- Department of Sociology & Institute for Empirical Social Science Research, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Dagfinn Aune
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Nutrition, Bjørknes University College, Oslo, Norway; Department of Endocrinology, Morbid Obesity and Preventive Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Yafeng Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
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Shaw WS, Roelofs C, Punnett L. Work Environment Factors and Prevention of Opioid-Related Deaths. Am J Public Health 2020; 110:1235-1241. [PMID: 32552015 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2020.305716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Opioid use disorder (OUD) and opioid overdose deaths (OODs) are prevalent among US workers, but work-related factors have not received adequate attention as either risk factors or opportunities for OOD prevention. Higher prevalence of OOD in those with heavy physical jobs, more precarious work, and limited health care benefits suggest work environment and organizational factors may predispose workers to the development of OUD.Organizational policies that reduce ergonomic risk factors, respond effectively to employee health and safety concerns, provide access to nonpharmacologic pain management, and encourage early substance use treatment are important opportunities to improve outcomes. Organizational barriers can limit disclosure of pain and help-seeking behavior, and opioid education is not effectively integrated with workplace safety training and health promotion programs.Policy development at the employer, government, and association levels could improve the workplace response to workers with OUD and reduce occupational risks that may be contributing factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- William S Shaw
- William S. Shaw is with the Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington. Cora Roelofs and Laura Punnett are with the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Francis College of Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell
| | - Cora Roelofs
- William S. Shaw is with the Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington. Cora Roelofs and Laura Punnett are with the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Francis College of Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell
| | - Laura Punnett
- William S. Shaw is with the Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington. Cora Roelofs and Laura Punnett are with the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Francis College of Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell
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