How socioprofessional factors effect serious suicide attempts: a case–control study

How socioprofessional factors effect serious suicide attempts: a case–control study

Authors

  • Stephane Saillant Department of General and Liaison Psychiatry, Neuchatel Psychiatric Center, Switzerland
  • José Paz Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Philippe Golay Community Psychiatry Service, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Louise Ostertag Liaison Psychiatry Service, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Alessandra Costanza Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva (UNIGE), Geneva, Switzerland
  • Bénédicte Van der Vaeren Pole of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Liaison Psychiatry Service, Hospital Centre of Valais, Romand, Switzerland
  • Yves Dorogi Liaison Psychiatry Service, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Irina Guseva Canu Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Laurent Michaud Liaison Psychiatry Service, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

Keywords:

suicide prevention, suicide attempt, severe suicide attempt, socioprofessional factors, high skill level

Abstract

Background and aims: A serious suicide attempt (SSA) is defined as a suicidal act that requires subsequent hospitalization for more than 24 hours. As some occupations have been identified as being at an increased risk of suicide, we hypothesized that certain socioprofessional factors act as risk factors for SSAs. To test this hypothesis, we assessed whether occupational status, learned or current occupation, the skill level required for that occupation, and socioeconomic status differed between people who had made an SSA (i.e., cases) and those who had made a non-serious suicide attempt (i.e., controls). Research design and methods: We used data from a self-harm monitoring program in the French-speaking regions of Switzerland. Associations between SSAs and socioprofessional factors were assessed using univariate and multivariable logistic regression models. Results: The study sample comprised 320 cases and 1468 controls. Data on recent interruptions to employment, suffering at work, and the highest level of education reached differed significantly between the cases and controls. Differences in occupational status were of borderline statistical significance. The proportion of active employees was higher among controls than among cases, but data on cases’ occupation and education were more often unknown. High levels of professional skills and being employed in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences were associated with SSAs. Among these, architects, engineers, and related professionals were the most at risk in the univariate model, although multivariate analyses failed to confirm this. Conclusion: Findings suggested that some occupational variables were associated with a higher probability of SSAs. However, there were lots of missing values among the predictor variables. These issues could be remediated by improving training for team members involved in data collection and paying greater attention to the socioprofessional factors affecting suicidal behavior.

References

Referee 1: Prof. Nav Kapur, University of Manchester, UK, nav.kapur@manchester.ac.uk

Referee 2 : Prof. Guillaume Vaiva, Lille Hospital, gvaiva@chru-lille.fr

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Published

28-08-2024

Issue

Section

ORIGINAL CLINICAL RESEARCH

How to Cite

1.
Saillant S, Paz J, Golay P, Ostertag L, Costanza A, Van der Vaeren B, et al. How socioprofessional factors effect serious suicide attempts: a case–control study. Acta Biomed [Internet]. 2024 Aug. 28 [cited 2024 Oct. 5];95(4):e2024055. Available from: https://mail.mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/15309