Year of Publication
2023
College
Public Health
Date Available
7-26-2025
Degree Name
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
Committee Member
Kimberly Tumlin, PhD, MS, MPH
Advisor
Steven Browning, PhD, MSPH
Co-Director of Graduate Studies
Sabrina Brown, DrPH
Abstract
Objectives: To identify differences in demographic and contextual characteristics of suicide mortality among healthcare support workers (HCSWs) and to estimate annual suicide rates among HCSW in the United States from 2003-2019 using the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) and the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Methods: Demographic variables of healthcare support worker suicide decedents were collected using the NVDRS. Odds ratios for circumstantial risk factors by sex were calculated. Crude rates for healthcare support worker suicide decedents were calculated and compared to the U.S. general population suicide crude rates.
Results: Male HCSW were more likely to have reported job problems (OR=1.82, 95% CI: 1.25 – 2.65) and intimate partner problem (OR=1.47, 95% CI: 1.15 – 1.89) compared to female HCSW. Male HCSW were less likely to report they had substance use problems (OR=0.56, 95% CI: 0.41 – 0.77), mental health problems (OR=0.56, 95% CI: 0.44 – 0.71), and history of mental illness treatment (OR=0.58, 95% CI: 0.46 – 0.73) compared to female HCSW.
Conclusions: Findings suggest the need to educate, recognize, and support healthy environments for HCSW to improve suicide risk and mitigation of risk.
Recommended Citation
Ngam, Sol, ""Disparities in Suicide Mortality Among Healthcare Support Workers in the United States, 2003-2019"" (2023). Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.). 397.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cph_etds/397
