A comparative analysis of the substance use and mental health characteristics of nurses who complete suicide

Abstract

Aims and objectives:To describe the substance use and mental health characteristics of nurses who complete suicide compared to non-nurses.Background: Nurses are at higher risk of suicide than the general population. The relationship between substance use, mental health and suicide in a large sample of nurses in the USA has not been previously described. Design: Retrospective observational quantitative analysis. Methods: Suicide data were retrospectively analysed in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Violent Death Reporting System from 2003 to 2017.Data were compared between nurses who died by suicide (n = 2,306) and non-nurses who died by suicide (n = 185,620) using odds ratios calculations and chi-square test of proportions to detect independent risk factors of suicide completion in nurses. This study followed the STROBE guidelines.Results: Significant differences between nurses and non-nurses were found. Among decedents for whom substances were implicated as a cause of death, nurses were far more likely to be positive at the time of death for almost all substance classifications. Both male and female nurses were more likely than non-nurses to have a mental health problem reported. Among both female and male nurses, job problems were more prevalent compared to non-nurses (12.8% and 19.9% versus 7.2% and 11.9%, respectively). Female nurses were more likely to have a physical health problem compared to female non-nurses, male nurses and male non-nurses (26.2% versus 21.3%, 22% and 20.4%). Conclusion:Unique relationships between substance use and mental health exist among nurses who complete suicide which may offer specific opportunities for interventions to reduce suicide.

Longitudinal analysis of suicides among pharmacists during 2003-2018

“…Pharmacists' mean age at the time of death was statistically significantly higher than the general population. This higher average age trend was also reported among nurses who died by suicide 4,7,8 and among physicians. 6 The most common means of suicide among pharmacist decedents in this study was firearms.…”

The Nurse Leader's Role in Nurse Substance Use, Mental Health, and Suicide in a Peripandemic World

“…A recent study of nurse suicide found that nurses were significantly more likely to have positive blood toxicology results across nearly all substances than their counterparts in the general population. 5 Interestingly, in this study, nurses were not more likely to have a documented substance use disorder reported prior to death by suicide, a finding complicated by the suspicion that nurse substance use is widely underreported. 23 Factors related to this underreporting include stigma, regulatory and licensure issues, and limited access to treatment resources.…”

“…[13][14][15] A recent study of the mental health characteristics of nurses who died by suicide found nurses being more likely than nonnurses to report a mental health problem and more likely to have a specific diagnosis of depression prior to death. 5 While not considered a mental illness per se, burnout has been reported within the nursing profession to range from 33% 16 to 50%. 17 Burnout is an emotional response to chronic job stress that involves emotional exhaustion, demoralization, cynicism, and feelings of inefficacy.…”

“…3,4 Several risk factors have been linked with nurse suicide, such as mental health, substance use, job problems, and physical health problems. 5 The purpose of this article is to review the current understanding of nurse suicide and evidence-based practices that can reduce the impact of its predisposing factors.…”

Secure Your Mask First: The Importance of Self-Care

“…Among the 203 nurse subjects of the study, 82% had depression, 65% had problematic substance use, and 61% had experienced job loss (Davidson et al, 2021). A similar study comparing the mental health and substance use characteristics of 2,306 nurses who died by suicide to 185,620 non-nurses who died by suicide showed statistically significant higher rates of affective disorders and substance use in nurses at the time of death, as well as job and physical health problems, indicating “mid- to long-range problems that did not develop suddenly and without warning” (Choflet et al, 2021). Bernadette Melnyk and colleagues advocate for screening programs to detect symptoms of depression in nurses, highlighting the “HEAR (Healer Education Assessment and Referral) screening program, which provides anonymous online depression screening and treatment referral .…”