Work and suicide risk: Integrative review

Abstract

Suicide is underestimated and stigmatized in society and work-related suicide is even more invisible. This study aimed to analyze the scientific literature on the risk of suicide or attempted suicide among workers and its relationship with psychosocial factors, harassment and harassment in the workplace. An integrative literature review was carried out in seven databases, using the following descriptors: [“Work”
OR “Workplace”] AND [“Occupational Stress” OR “Workplace Violence” OR “Harassment, Non-Sexual”
OR “Sexual Harassment”] AND [“Suicide” OR “Suicide, Attempted”]. Studies focused on “suicidal ideation” and specifically related to certain occupations were excluded. According to PRISMA guidelines, 1427 references were identified and 15 articles were selected. There was a significant association between the risk of suicide and/or suicide attempt with harassment at work, high psychological and cognitive demands, low control/autonomy, fear of losing the job/be downgraded, work-family conflicts, poor social support, and job dissatisfaction. Severe work-related stress was also associated with the risk of suicide, when combined with severe domestic stress. This study showed that fear of losing a job, harassment and psychosocial factors at work increase the risk of suicide and attempted suicide. Such conditions should be focus of the attention on workers’care.