U.S. Suicide Rate Rises 40% over 17 Years, with Blue-Collar Workers at Highest Risk, CDC Finds

February 07, 2020

News Type:  Weekly Spark, Weekly Spark News

CNBC

A recent analysis found that blue-collar workers are at higher risk of suicide than people in other professions. These findings come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which analyzed 2016 suicide data by industry and occupation. They show that men and women who work in construction and extraction jobs have the highest suicide rates of any occupation. Men who work in mining, quarrying, and oil and gas have the highest suicide rates of those in any industry. According to CDC researchers, suicide risk is linked to low-skill work, job stress, and lower levels of education and socioeconomic status. “These findings highlight opportunities for targeted prevention strategies and further investigation of work-related factors that might increase risk of suicide,” the study authors wrote.

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