Safety and Health at Work

Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (산업안전보건연구원)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Suicide Mortality Across Broad Occupational Groups in Greece: A Descriptive Study

  • Alexopoulos, Evangelos C. (Faculty of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University) ;
  • Kavalidou, Katerina (Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Gartnavel Royal Hospital) ;
  • Messolora, Fani (Peristeri's Regional Health Unit, Social Insurance Institute (IKA))
  • Received : 2015.03.24
  • Accepted : 2015.09.03
  • Published : 2016.03.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Background: Several studies have investigated the relationship between specific occupations and suicide mortality, as suicide rates differ by profession. The aim of this study was to investigate suicide mortality ratios across broad occupational groups in Greece for both sexes in the period 2000-2009. Methods: Data of suicide deaths were retrieved from the Hellenic Statistical Authority and comparative mortality ratios were calculated. Occupational classification was based on the International Classification of Occupations (ISCO-88) and the coding for Intentional self-harm (X60-X84) was based on the international classification of diseases (ICD-10). Results: Male dominant occupations, mainly armed forces, skilled farmers and elementary workers, and female high-skilled occupations were seen as high risk groups for suicide in a period of 10 years. The age-productive group of 30-39 years in Greek male elementary workers and the 50-59 age-productive group of Greek professional women proved to have the most elevated number of suicide deaths. Conclusion: Further research is needed into the work-related stressors of occupations with high suicide mortality risk and focused suicide prevention strategies should be applied within vulnerable working age populations.

Keywords

References

  1. Fässberg MM, van Orden KA, Duberstein P, Erlangsen A, Lapierre S, Bodner E, Canetto SS, De Leo D, Szanto K, Waern M. A systematic review of social factors and suicidal behavior in older adulthood. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2012;9:722-45. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph9030722
  2. Milner A, Sveticic J, De Leo D. Suicide in the absence of mental disorder? A review of psychological autopsy studies across countries. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2013;59:545-54. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764012444259
  3. Pompili M, Innamorati M, Vichi M, Masocco M, Vanacore N, Lester D, Serafini G, Dominici G, Girardi P, De Leo D, Tatarelli R. Suicide prevention among youths. Systematic review of available evidence-based interventions and implications for Italy. Minerva Pediatr 2010;62:507-35.
  4. O'Dea D, Tucker S. The cost of suicide to society. Wellington (New Zealand): Ministry of Health; 2005.
  5. World Health Organization (WHO). Preventing suicide: A resource at work 2006. Geneva (Switzerland): WHO; 2006.
  6. Andersen K, Hawgood J, Klieve H, Kolves K, De Leo D. Suicide in selected occupations in Queensland: evidence from the State suicide register. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2010;44:243-9. https://doi.org/10.3109/00048670903487142
  7. Milner A, Spittal MJ, Pirkis J, LaMontagne AD. Suicide by occupation: systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Psychiatry 2013;203:409-16. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.113.128405
  8. Helmkamp JC. Occupation and suicide among males in the US Armed Forces. Ann Epidemiol 1996;6:83-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/1047-2797(95)00121-2
  9. Roberts SE, Jaremin B, Lloyd K. High-risk occupations for suicide. Psychol Med 2013;43:1231-40. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291712002024
  10. Stark C, Gibbs D, Hopkins P, Belbin A, Hay A, Selvaraj S. Suicide in farmers in Scotland. Rural Remote Health 2006;6:509.
  11. Hawton K, Clements A, Sakarovitch C, Simkin S, Deeks JJ. Suicide in doctors: a study of risk according to gender, seniority and specialty in medical practitioners in England and Wales, 1979-1995. J Epidemiol Community Health 2001;55:296-300. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.55.5.296
  12. Inskip H, Coggon D, Winter P, Pannett B. Mortality of farmers and farmers' wives in England and Wales 1979-80, 1982-90. Occup Environ Med 1996;53:730-5. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.53.11.730
  13. Roman E, Beral V, Inskip H. Occupational mortality among women in England and Wales. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1985;291:194-6. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.291.6489.194
  14. Stark C, Belbin A, Hopkins P, Gibbs D, Hay A, Gunnell D. Male suicide and occupation in Scotland. Health Stat Q 2006;29:26-9.
  15. Walrath J, Li FP, Hoar SK, Mead MW, Fraumeni Jr JF. Causes of death among female chemists. Am J Public Health 1985;75:883-5. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.75.8.883
  16. Canetto SS, Sakinofsky I. The gender paradox in suicide. Suicide Life Threat Behav 1998;28:1-23.
  17. Lynge E. Occupational mortality. Scand J Public Health 2011;39:153-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494811401481
  18. Varnik A, Kolves K, van der Feltz-Cornelis CM, Marusic A, Oskarsson H, Palmer A, Reisch T, Scheerder G, Arensman E, Aromaa E, Giupponi G, Gusmao R, Maxwell M, Pull C, Szekely A, Sola VP, Hegerl U. Suicide methods in Europe: a gender-specific analysis of countries participating in the "European Alliance Against Depression". J Epidemiol Community Health 2008;62:545-51. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2007.065391
  19. Arnautovska U, McPhedran S, De Leo D. A regional approach to understanding farmer suicide rates in Queensland. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2014;49:593-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-013-0777-9
  20. Gallagher LM, Kliem C, Beautrais AL, Stallones L. Suicide and occupation in New Zealand, 2001-2005. Int J Occup Environ Health 2008;14:45-50. https://doi.org/10.1179/oeh.2008.14.1.45
  21. Milner A, Niven H, LaMontagne A. Suicide by occupational skill level in the Australian construction industry: data from 2001 to 2010. Aust N Z J Public Health 2014;38:281-5. https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12205
  22. Platt B, Hawton K, Simkin S, Mellanby RJ. Systematic review of the prevalence of suicide in veterinary surgeons. Occup Med (Lond) 2010;60:436-46. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqq044
  23. Boxer PA, Burnett C, Swanson N. Suicide and occupation: a review of the literature. J Occup Environ Med 1995;37:442-52. https://doi.org/10.1097/00043764-199504000-00016
  24. Hawton K, Agerbo E, Simkin S, Platt B, Mellanby RJ. Risk of suicide in medical and related occupational groups: A national study based on Danish case population-based registers. J Affect Disord 2011;134:320-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2011.05.044
  25. Kavalidou K, McPhedran S, De Leo D. Farmers' contact with health care services prior to suicide: evidence for the role of general practitioners as an intervention point. Aust J Prim Health 2013;21:102-5.
  26. Fear NT, Ward VR, Harrison K, Davison L, Williamson S, Blatchley NF. Suicide among male regular UK Armed Forces personnel, 1984-2007. Occup Environ Med 2009;66:438-41. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.2008.040816
  27. Skegg K, Firth H, Gray A, Cox B. Suicide by occupation: does access to means increase the risk? Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2010;44:429-34. https://doi.org/10.3109/00048670903487191
  28. Stuart H. Suicidality among police. Curr Opin Psychiatry 2008;21:505-9. https://doi.org/10.1097/YCO.0b013e328305e4c1
  29. Hem E, Berg AM, Ekeberg AO. Suicide in policeda critical review. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2001;31:224-33. https://doi.org/10.1521/suli.31.2.224.21513
  30. Stack S. Occupation and suicide. Soc Sci Q 2001;82:384-96. https://doi.org/10.1111/0038-4941.00030
  31. Heller TS, Hawgood JL, Leo DD. Correlates of suicide in building industry workers. Arch Suicide Res 2007;11:105-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811110600992977
  32. Lindeman S, Laara E, Hakko H, Lonnqvist J. A systematic review on genderspecific suicide mortality in medical doctors. Br J Psychiatry 1996;168:274-9. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.168.3.274
  33. International Labour Organization (ILO) [Internet]. International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08) - Conceptual Framework ILO; 2008. [cited 2014 Dec 8]. Available from: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/stat/isco/docs/annex1.doc.
  34. EL.STAT [Internet]. Hellenic Statistical Authority. [cited 2014 Dec 8]. Available from: http://www.statistics.gr/portal/page/portal/ESYE.
  35. Alexopoulos EC, Messolora F, Tanagra D. Comparative mortality ratios of cancer among men in Greece across broad occupational groups. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2011;84:943-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0622-y
  36. World Health Organization (WHO). International statistical classification of diseases and health related problems. Geneva (Switzerland): WHO; 1992.
  37. Fernquist RM. Perceived income inequality and suicide rates in Central/Eastern European countries and Western countries, 1990-1993. Death Stud 2003;27:63-80. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481180302870
  38. Kwan YK, Ip WC, Kwan P. Gender differences in suicide risk by sociodemographic factors in Hong Kong. Death Stud 2005;29:645-63. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481180591004543
  39. Moscicki EK. Epidemiology of completed and attempted suicide: toward a framework for prevention. Clin Neurosci Res 2001;1:310-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1566-2772(01)00032-9
  40. Knox KL, Litts DA, Talcott GW, Feig JC, Caine ED. Risk of suicide and related adverse outcomes after exposure to a suicide prevention programme in the US Air Force: cohort study. BMJ 2003;327:1376-80. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.327.7428.1376
  41. Matthieu MM, Cross W, Batres AR, Flora CM, Knox KL. Evaluation of gatekeeper training for suicide prevention in veterans. Arch Suicide Res 2008;12:148-54. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811110701857491
  42. Giotakos O. Suicidal ideation, substance use, and sense of coherence in Greek male conscripts. Mil Med 2003;168:447-50. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/168.6.447
  43. Mahon MJ, Tobin JP, Cusack DA, Kelleher C, Malone KM. Suicide among regular-duty military personnel: a retrospective case-control study of occupation-specific risk factors for workplace suicide. Am J Psychiatry 2005;162:1688-96. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.162.9.1688
  44. Pinder RJ, Iversen AC, Kapur N, Wessely S, Fear NT. Self-harm and attempted suicide among UK armed forces personnel: Results of a cross-sectional survey. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2012;58:433-9. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764011408534
  45. Bazas T, Jemos J, Stefanis K, Trichopoulos D. Incidence and seasonal variation of suicide mortality in Greece. Compr Psychiatr 1979;20:15-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-440X(79)90055-5
  46. Goldney RD, Fisher LJ, Wilson DH, Cheok F. Mental health literacy of those with major depression and suicidal ideation: an impediment to help seeking. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2002;32:394-403. https://doi.org/10.1521/suli.32.4.394.22343
  47. McPhedran S, De Leo D. Suicide among miners in Queensland, Australia. A comparative analysis of demographics, psychiatric history, and stressful life events. SAGE Open 2013:1-9.
  48. Nieuwenhuijsen K, Bruinvels D, Frings-Dresen M. Psychosocial work environment and stress-related disorders, a systematic review. Occup Med (Lond) 2010;60:277-86. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqq081
  49. Sanne B, Mykletun A, Dahl AA, Moen BE, Tell GS., Hordaland Health Study. Occupational differences in levels of anxiety and depression: the Hordaland Health Study. J Occup Environ Med 2003;45:628-38. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.jom.0000069239.06498.2f

Cited by

  1. A Reanalysis of Occupation and Suicide: Negative Perceptions of the Workplace Linked to Suicide Attempts vol.151, pp.8, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.2017.1393378
  2. Suicide among veterinarians in the United States from 1979 through 2015 vol.254, pp.1, 2016, https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.254.1.104
  3. Suicide Mortality Patterns in Greek Work Force before and during the Economic Crisis vol.16, pp.3, 2019, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16030469
  4. Worldwide trends in suicide mortality from 1990 to 2015 with a focus on the global recession time frame vol.64, pp.5, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-019-01219-y
  5. Principales causas de muerte de agricultores en Colombia periodo 2010-2016 vol.52, pp.1, 2016, https://doi.org/10.18273/revsal.v52n1-2020006
  6. Inequality in Health: The Correlation between Poverty and Injury-A Comprehensive Analysis Based on Income Level in Taiwan: A Cross-Sectional Study vol.9, pp.3, 2016, https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9030349
  7. Identification of socio‐demographic, occupational, and societal factors for guiding suicide prevention: A cohort study of Swiss male workers (2000-2014) vol.51, pp.3, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12746