Higher suicide risk among pharmacists and female techs, U.S. study shows

U.S. pharmacists overall and female pharmacy technicians are at a higher risk of suicide compared with their counterparts and the general population, according to new research published in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. Pharmacists were 21% more likely to die by suicide compared to the general public, while female pharmacy technicians had a 22% higher suicide risk. Males accounted for 76% of pharmacist suicides and 39% of those by pharmacy technicians.The national study, led by researchers from the University of California San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, examined suicide incidences using the National Violent Death Reporting System. The data showed that pharmacists were more likely to have had workplace issues preceding death compared to the general public, while pharmacy technicians were more prone to a history of mental illness. Pharmacists also had higher odds of using poisoning as a method.Read: Lunch breaks, quota bans and more: Ohio’s new rules fight burnout and understaffingOne of the study researchers Kelly Lee, a professor of clinical pharmacy at Skaggs School of Pharmacy, said these results speak to the broader issue of how to manage mental health burnout in a highly demanding healthcare setting that is primed to get worse as pharmacist scope expands. "The field talks a lot about mental health, especially after COVID, but our overall work culture hasn't changed," she noted in a news release. "Access to mental health resources is limited, and stigma continues to be a major barrier to seeking help."Lee emphasized the need for more resources and compassionate workplace policies. “Employers must create environments where taking time for mental health is normalized and supported. It shouldn’t be difficult for someone to seek help,” she said.Next the researchers are focusing on identifying the best targeted interventions to prevent future suicides for at-risk healthcare providers, including pharmacy professionals.

Higher suicide risk among pharmacists and female techs, U.S. study shows

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