Suicide by health care professionals

Goldney, Robert D

doi:10.5694/mja16.00249

Topics

Health professionals are human beings — and therefore not immune to mental health problems

The paper by Milner and colleagues1 is a useful reminder that the medical and associated professions are not immune to suicide. Based on data from the National Coronial Information System, it is the most comprehensive study of its type in Australia.

University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA

Correspondence: rdghcg@icloud.com

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

1. Milner AJ, Maheen H, Bismark MM, Spittal MJ. Suicide by health care professionals: a retrospective mortality study in Australia, 2001–2012. Med J Aust 2016; 205: 260-265.
2. Hawton K, Clements A, Sakarovitch C, et al. Suicide in doctors: a study of risk according to gender, seniority and specialty in medical practitioners in England and Wales, 1979–1995. J Epidemiol Community Health 2001; 55: 296-300.
3. beyondblue. National mental health survey of doctors and medical students. October 2013. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/docs/default-source/research-project-files/bl1132-report---nmhdmss-full-report_web.pdf?sfvrsn=4 (accessed Mar 2016).
4. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 3303.0. Causes of death, Australia, 2014. 11. Intentional self-harm (suicide). http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/3303.02014?OpenDocument (accessed July 2016).

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