Which profession has the highest rate of suicide?

star_gazer

Some larger studies in the last few years provide at least some thought-provoking questions about connections between jobs and suicide. For example, in 1997, NIOSH and other government agencies analyzed 1980-84 death certificates by all occupations and causes of death, and found statistically significant elevated rates of suicide for: White male physicians. Black male guards (including supervisors, crossing guards, police, protective service occupations, but not correctional institution occupations). White female painters, sculptors, craft-artists and artist printmakers. http://www.apa.org/monitor/jan01/suicide.aspx Jan 12 10, 11:33 PM

queproblema

A few weeks my daughter told me lawyers have the highest suicide rate. She would be amazed to learn I never googled that tidbit till just now. This is what I found in the American Bar Association Journal: "Personality characteristics often associated with lawyers, such as perfectionism and competitiveness, when combined with depression may be contributing to a higher suicide rate in the legal profession, an expert says." http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/lawyer_personalities_may_contribute_to_increased_suicide_risk/ But the article star cites says there is no data that shows a higher propensity for suicide in one profession or occupation over another, but says mental state has all to do with it. "And in fact, points out Ronald Maris, PhD, director of the Center for the Study of Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior at the University of South Carolina, Occupation is not a major predictor of suicide and it does not explain much about why the person commits suicide.'" Concluding, "In the end, say some researchers, occupation may not be much of a factor in suicide. Psychologists have long documented that among the top predictors for suicide are diagnosable mental disorder, co-morbid substance use, loss of social support and availability and access to a firearm." http://www.apa.org/monitor/jan01/suicide.aspx Jan 13 10, 1:37 AM

dcpddc478

One website, The Straight Dope includes a quote from Steven Stack that says, "Dentists' odds of suicide "are 6.64 times greater than the rest of the working age population..." The website also indicates that male doctors and dentists both are well above average for suicide rates among American workers. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/358562/jobs_with_high_suicide_rates.html?cat=5 Jan 13 10, 10:16 AM

Baloo55th

Well, dentists are always looking down in the mouth..... Jan 13 10, 3:44 PM