Suicide Rate Higher for Pharmacists Than General Population

Pharmacists had a higher risk of death by suicide and more known job-related problems before death compared to the general population, according to findings in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association.

“Previous studies in nurses and physicians suggest that pharmacists may also be at higher risk,” wrote Kelley C Lee, PharmD, MAS, BCPP, professor of clinical pharmacy, University of California–San Diego, and coauthors. “Increasing awareness and knowledge of suicides among pharmacists are the first steps to developing interventions to prevent this potential tragedy.”

Researchers analyzed data spanning 2003-2018 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Violent Death Reporting System, which included all suicides reported by a medical examiner in 39 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. Occupation codes and other variables were used to identify which decedents were pharmacists, their means of suicide, and possible risk factors.

There were 316 pharmacists who died by suicide included the dataset, most of whom were White (85%) and male (75%). On average, pharmacists were 53.5 years of age at time of death, compared to 49 years of age for nonpharmacists (P<.001).

“Male pharmacists were significantly less likely to have a history of suicide attempt (OR .34 [OR range: .18–.62], P=.018) compared with female pharmacists,” Dr Lee and coauthors said.

Out of the 316 suicides, 134 (49.8%) involved firearms, 79 (29.4%) involved poisoning, and 35 (13%) were due to hanging/strangulation/suffocation.

Findings showed pharmacists were more likely than nonpharmacists to use poisoning as a means of suicide (29.4% vs. 16.7%, P<.001). Antidepressants, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, nonbenzodiazepine sedatives, and opioids were significantly associated with suicides by pharmacists.

Job problems were the most significant factor associated with suicide by pharmacists compared with nonpharmacists (OR 1.77 [OR range: 1.32-2.37], P=.011), followed by current mental illness treatment (OR 1.56 [OR range: 1.24-1.96], P=.008) and suicide note (OR 1.53 [OR range: 1.22-1.92], P=.009).

“The age-adjusted rate of suicides among pharmacists per 100,000 during 2004, 2009, and 2014 was higher than the suicide rate reported in the general population and consistent with other studies that were not based in the United States,” Dr Lee and coauthors said.

“Although recruitment and retention of our health professionals in the workforce are important, more attention and vigilance toward maintaining the well-being of our caregivers should also be paramount.”

Reference:
Lee KC, Ye GY, Choflet A, et al. Longitudinal analysis of suicides among pharmacists during 2003-2018. J Am Pharm Assoc. Published online May 13, 2022. doi:10.1016/j.japh.2022.04.013