Suicide: Doctors at risk By Azoma Chikwe

Several studies have indicated to an elevated risk of suicide for medical occupations such as physicians, dentists, veterinarians, and nurses compared to the general population and to other academic occupations such as education professionals. (Platt et al. 2010; chernhammer and Colditz, 2004; Agerbo et al., 2007; Hawton et al., 2011). In a British study of high-risk occupations for suicide, medical occupations had the highest suicide rates (per 100 000 population), including veterinarians (ranked first), pharmacists (fourth), dentists (sixth) and doctors (tenth) They had easy occupational access to a method of suicide (pharmaceuticals or guns). In a retrospective study of suicides by health professionals... Read more