Citation

Odom-Forren J. J. Perianesth. Nurs. 2018; 33(4): 363-365.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jopan.2018.06.097

PMID

30077277

Abstract

OVER A MILLION persons will die by suicide each year worldwide. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States; in 2016, 44,000 persons took their lives by suicide in the United States. Unfortunately, overall suicide rates are increasing. Suicide was brought to international attention with the high-profile suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. Data suggests that physicians are at a greater risk to die by suicide, and emerging data indicates that the same is true for other health care workers. In England, while health care workers generally are at a higher risk, the risk of suicide among female nurses is 23% above the national average. The information about US nurse suicides is highly limited and most is outdated. A systematic review of nursing and suicide by Alderson et al found only nine articles for inclusion, with only two from the United States, the most recent from 2001. In the systematic review, the authors highlight the high prevalence of nurse suicide and the lack of recent studies examining this issue in US nurses.

The ideas or opinions expressed in this editorial are those solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ASPAN, the Journal, or the Publisher.

Conflict of interest: None to report.

Language: en