Epidemiology of Suicide Mortality Among Nurses Internationally.

Abstract

Aim: To examine the epidemiology of suicide mortality among nurses internationally.

Methods: The literature was searched to identify studies that analyzed suicide mortality among nurses internationally. Cumulatively, n = 61 studies were included (i.e. n = 40 epidemiological and n = 21 cohort).

Results: Epidemiological and cohort evidence on nurse suicide mortality were available for the European Region, Region of the Americas, and Western Pacific Region. Male nurse suicide rates in the European Region were both below and above male age-standardized suicide rates in this region, while female nurse suicide rates in the European Region were above female age-standardized suicide rates in this region. Male nurse suicide rates in the Region of the Americas were above male age-standardized suicide rates in this region, and female nurse suicide rates in the Region of the Americas were both below and above female age-standardized suicide rates in this region. Male nurse suicide rates in the Western Pacific Region were above male age-standardized suicide rates in this region, and female nurse suicide rates in the Western Pacific Region were both slightly below and above female age-standardized suicide rates in this region.

Conclusion: There were no epidemiological or cohort studies on nurse suicide mortality within three global regions (i.e. African, Eastern Mediterranean, and South-East Asia), and research in these regions is important in building the evidence base. Cumulatively, it remains difficult ascertaining cross-regional nurse suicide risk, in part, due to the limited availability of global data on occupation-specific suicide mortality.