Marco actual del suicidio e ideas suicidas en personal sanitario

Abstract

Introduction: Suicide is a public health problem in many countries. Several studies have shown occupational risk factors associated with suicidal ideation and high suicide rates in health care workers with respect to the general population. Objectives: To describe the current status of suicide in health care workers and assess demographic characteristics, occupational factors associated with suicidal ideation, and trends according to geographic location and to compare them with the general population or other professions. Method: Literature review in different databases in two stages: search/selection of items and assessment of 20 selected studies. Results: Health care workers have a higher risk of suicide compared with the general population and other professions. Increased risk was observed in the areas of nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, and medicine. The medical specialties with the highest risk are anesthesiology and psychiatry, being higher in women and at an older age. Regarding the most used methods, subjects in the USA prefer firearms while in other countries they prefer an overdose of drugs. Recent unpleasant experiences/workplace harassment, burnout, and labor disputes have proven risk factors in suicidal ideation in doctors. Conclusions: There are demographic differences in the characteristics of suicide according to different studied populations. The methods employed by physicians per countries are different, possibly due to the cultural influence of each country. Associated factors have been found between risk and suicidal ideation. It would be important to work on them to develop prevention strategies in this population.

Depression and suicide risk among nursing professionals: an integrative review

“…Risk factors can be: depression, low self-fulfillment and Burnout Syndrome. The risk of suicide was positively and significantly correlated with depression (17,25) . Studies (1,25) showed that the prevalence of depression symptoms is more pronounced among nursing professionals.…”

“…The risk of suicide was positively and significantly correlated with depression (17,25) . Studies (1,25) showed that the prevalence of depression symptoms is more pronounced among nursing professionals. Using the known diagnostic reconstruction technique (psychological autopsy), it was noted that psychiatric disorder is one of the biggest risk factors for suicide, and suicidal behavior is quite common among most groups of people with psychiatric diagnoses, and major depression disorder is most prevalent among suicide victims (1,30,(35)(36) .…”

“…Records indicate that in some countries, the risk of suicide among nurses is higher than in the general population; for example, in Denmark, Australia, and New Zealand, while Norway has a higher prevalence of suicide among nurses than other health professionals (25) . Risk factors can be: depression, low self-fulfillment and Burnout Syndrome.…”

“…Studies (1,17,22,(24)(25)(29)(30)(35)(36)(37)(38) revealed that nurses have a high risk for suicide. Records indicate that in some countries, the risk of suicide among nurses is higher than in the general population; for example, in Denmark, Australia, and New Zealand, while Norway has a higher prevalence of suicide among nurses than other health professionals (25) .…”

“…Unhealthy working environments with poor conditions, coupled with the presence of internal conflicts and the pressure of the institution and patients' families maximize these professionals' risk for depression and suicide (5,10,17,25,27) .…”