Suicidal thoughts among the employed workforce in France in 2017

Objectives: To describe the prevalence of suicidal thoughts among employed adults in metropolitan France, as well as the reasons attributed to these thoughts, and to examine the associations between exposure to certain occupational factors and suicidal thoughts. Methods: The data analyzed were drawn from the 2017 Santé publique France Barometer and included 14,536 employed adults. The prevalence rates of suicidal thoughts were described, in particular, by socio-professional category and sector of activity. Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to test the association between the occupational factors studied (psychosocial occupational exposures and adverse events at work) and suicidal thoughts. Results: The prevalence rate of suicidal thoughts among employed individuals was 3.8%. Women had a higher rate than men (4.5% vs. 3.1%). Differences in the prevalence rates of suicidal thoughts across economic sectors were statistically significant. The sectors most affected were accommodation and food services, arts and entertainment, and education. More than one-third of those with suicidal thoughts attributed them to occupational reasons. Regardless of gender, the occupational factors studied were significantly associated with suicidal thoughts. Discussion and Conclusion: Since suicidal thoughts are associated with suicide mortality, it is important to prevent their occurrence. The workplace can serve as a conducive environment for developing mental health promotion and prevention initiatives. The results of this study should help guide these initiatives, particularly in the sectors most affected.

Author(s): Delézire Pauline, Gigonzac Virginie, Chérié-Challine Laurence, Khireddine-Medouni Imane

Publishing year: 2019

Pages: 65-73

Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, 2019, n° 3-4, p. 65-73

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