In Austria, three times as many men as women die by suicide. However, it is the other way around in healthcare professions, according to a study by MedUni Vienna. She found an increased risk of suicide for doctors, dentists, veterinarians and pharmacists.
In contrast, the risk in male physicians is lower than in the general population. Previously, some foreign studies showed that people in health care professions have a higher risk of suicide. Research has also shown that people in other high-skilled occupations are less likely to commit suicide, which is partly attributed to their higher incomes.
A new study by MedUni Vienna has now for the first time investigated the suicide risk among healthcare workers and other highly qualified occupational groups (e.g. accountants, lawyers) in Austria. To this end, a team led by Claudia Zimmermann of the Center for Public Health compared data from deceased members of the chambers with Austria’s cause-of-death statistics. “The results show that among the male members of these occupational groups, only veterinarians had a significantly increased risk of suicide,” says Zimmermann. In contrast, male doctors, tax consultants and accountants commit suicide less often than the rest of the male population.
Tax advisors and accountants have a lower risk
The situation is different for women: in all health care professions surveyed, the risk of dying by suicide is higher than in the rest of the female population. The risk was also lower for tax advisors and accountants. “These results suggest that increased awareness and specific suicide prevention measures among healthcare professionals, especially with regard to women, may help to improve the situation,” concludes Zimmermann.
The case of the Upper Austrian doctor Lisa-Maria Kellermayr caused great consternation last year. For months she was threatened by radical opponents of vaccination and corona deniers and received hate mail. In the summer of 2022, she committed suicide. The perpetrators have so far escaped unpunished.
If you or a loved one are in an exceptional psychological situation or have suicidal thoughts, please contact the telephone pastoral care on telephone number 142. You will also find other crisis telephones and emergency numbers there HERE.
Source: Krone
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