Both male and female nurses face higher suicide risk than their counterparts in other occupations, according to a study published in Archives of Psychiatric Nursing.
Researchers used 2014 National Violent Death Reporting System data to compare characteristics among occupations.
They found:
• Suicides were significantly higher among the female nurse population at a rate of 11.97 per 100,000 people as compared to the female population at 7.58 per 100,000 people.
• Male nurses also faced significantly higher suicide rates (39.8 per 100,000) as compared to the male population (28.2 per 100,000).
• Benzodiazepines and opioids were the most commonly used substances used in clinician suicide.
"These results suggest a public health imperative for future research and development of effective preventative strategies for nurses," researchers concluded.