Homicide and Suicide in Select Healthcare Industries and Occupations in the United States,National Violent Death Reporting System,2017 to 2022

Abstract

Background:

Violent deaths represent a serious occupational health and safety concern in healthcare. This study examines the occupations, sociodemographic factors, and circumstances reported for homicides and suicides occurring at work and outside work among decedents in select healthcare industries and occupations.

Methods:

Decedents in healthcare sub-industries were identified in CDC’s National Violent Death Reporting System, years 2017 to 2022. Workplace and non-workplace deaths were included. Frequencies and proportions of decedent demographics, occupation categories, location of injury, and precipitating circumstances including perpetrator-victim relationship (among homicides), and social, mental health, and substance use factors contributing to death (among suicides) were reported.

Findings:

During 2017 to 2022, 91 workplace homicides, 3,889 non-workplace homicides, 97 workplace suicides, and 12,450 non-workplace suicides were reported among healthcare industry workers. Suicides and homicides occurred more frequently among females compared with males. Homicides occurred most frequently among healthcare practitioners and technical occupations and healthcare support occupations, while suicides occurred most frequently among healthcare practitioners and technical occupations. Homicide decedents often knew the suspect through current or previous personal or work relationships. Most suicide decedents had a current mental health problem or symptoms.

Conclusions/Application to Practice:

This analysis supports existing recommendations and national priorities for preventing workplace violence and suicide in healthcare. Findings reinforce previous research and add more context to these violent deaths by presenting circumstances of non-workplace deaths. Contributors to these violent deaths are multifactorial. Further research can investigate underlying mechanisms for homicide and suicide in this healthcare worker population, particularly among certain work settings and less-studied occupation groups.

Keywords

suicide healthcare worker/homecare worker workplace violence/bullying injury/occupational injury/traumatic injury behavioral/mental health/stress/anxiety/depression

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