LAUSR

Objective Given the known importance of work in our everyday lives, and growing economic and psychosocial pressure related to rapid changes in current working conditions, the link between occupation and suicide regains both academic and practical interest. Sex-specific mortality from suicide in Swiss working-age (18–65) population was investigated. Methods The study sample comprised 5’834’618 participants of the Swiss National Cohort (SNC) (94’918’456 person-years). For every occupation and economic activity/industry (coded using international standard classifications) we computed directly age-standardized mortality rates (DSRs) using the age structure of the European population (2010) and standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for suicide using Swiss population cause-specific mortality rates. Results The highest DSRs were observed among unemployed/job seeking group (52.94 per 1 00 000 person-years based on 568 suicides), in agricultural, fishery and related male workers, and in health and social activities female workers. A consistent reduction in DSRs across three calendar periods, 1990–1998, 1999–2006, and 2007–2014 was observed in men. In female corporate managers, DSRs increased over the 2007–2014 period compared with 1999–2006. Unemployed/job seeking people, manufacturing labourers, personal care and related workers, and motor vehicle drivers of both sexes were identified at risk of suicide (SMR >1) compared to general working-age population. Moreover, an excess of suicide was observed among male material recording and transport clerks; nursing and midwife associated professionals; and agricultural workers as well as among female writers and performing artists. Conclusions This study showed a distinctive pattern of suicide mortality between the two sexes and identified occupation groups at high and low risk of suicide among men and women. Sex-specific results need further investigation. In-depth analyses, taking into account the individual, social, and organizational characteristics of this population are necessary to understand the differences between and within protective and harmful occupations and to design targeted interventions aiming at suicide prevention among high-risk workers.