Suicide in doctors: a study of risk according to gender, seniority and specialty in medical practitioners in England and Wales, 1979-1995

Abstract

Main results-Two hundred and twenty three medical practitioners in the National Health Service who died by suicide or undetermined cause were identified. The annual suicide rates in male and female doctors were 19.2 and 18.8 per 100 000 respectively. The suicide rate in female doctors was higher than in the general population (SMR 201.8; 95% CI 99.7, 303.9), whereas the rate in male doctors was less than that of the general population (SMR 66.8; 95% CI 46.6, 87.0). The diVerence between the mortality ratios of the female and male doctors was statistically significant (p=0.01), although the absolute suicide risk was similar in the two genders. There were significant diVerences between specialties (p=0.0001), with anaesthetists, community health doctors, general practitioners and psychiatrists having significantly increased rates compared with doctors in general hospital medicine. There were no diVerences with regard to seniority and time period. Conclusions-There is an increased risk of suicide in female doctors, but male doctors seem to be at less risk than men in the general population. The excess risk of suicide in female doctors highlights the need to tackle stress and mental health problems in doctors more eVectively. The risk requires particular monitoring in the light of the very large increase in the numbers of women entering medicine. (J Epidemiol Community Health 2001;55:296-300) Doctors in several countries seem to have a relatively increased risk of suicide compared with the general population and to many other professional groups.

Sofrimento psíquico entre policiais civis: uma análise sob a ótica de gênero

“…Além de lidar com as pressões da sociedade por um policiamento eficiente, na realidade brasileira as precá-rias condições de trabalho interferem no desempenho desses profissionais, afetam sua saúde, geram desgaste, insatisfação e provocam estresse e sofrimento psíquico 1,2,3 . Estudos destacam que o policial lida com riscos reais e imaginários que são inerentes à profissão, que geram estresse e sofrimento 4,5 , e mesmo quando imaginários podem desencadear respostas de alerta e levar à morte 4,6 .…”

Análise Comparativa dos Óbitos de Médicos e Advogados Periciados no IML-BH no Período de 2006 a 2012

“…Este achado diverge de estudos que mostram uma maior prevalência do suicídio nos médicos do que em outras profissões 14,16,18,[24][25][26][27] . No estudo paulista com declarações de óbito de médicos, o suicídio também foi a segunda principal circunstância de morte 23 .…”

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“…Nevertheless, there are few studies that have tried to explore the associated risk factors. Considering the medical specialties, psychiatrists have high rates of suicide when compared with doctors in other specialties 6 , which points to the need for a careful look at this population.…”

“…Medical students generally have high rates of anxiety, depression and even suicidal ideation 7,8 , and, as mentioned earlier, psychiatry is among the medical specialties with higher suicide rates 6 , so it seems imperative a special attention to this group. It seems necessary a reflection by the medical schools as well as a monitoring of students through mentoring programs, to discuss the doubts and motivations of the specialty choice.…”