An alarming report out of the UK has revealed the staggering rates of depression and risk of suicide that women who work in the media face.
The findings of the study were based on deaths from suicide registered in England between 2011 and 2015 among those aged 20 to 64 years. You can read the report here.
Admittedly a British study, it was compiled by Public Health Britain and found that women employed in “culture, media and sport” had the highest risk of suicide of any of the female groups and were 69 times more at risk of suicide than the national average.
In comparison, nurses had a 23 per cent increased risk of suicide and female teachers a 42 per cent higher risk. The report noted the risk to women was “was highest among those working in artistic, literary and media occupations”.
There was also risks for men working in media, too. The study showed they were 20 per cent more at risk of suicide than the national average. However, it was British men who worked in the construction industry who were most at risk. Low-skilled labourers in construction have a risk that is three times higher than the average for the country, while men in skilled construction jobs also have an increased risk.
Although people in low-skilled, low paying jobs were most at risk of suicide, the report said, it also found certain industries attracted people with mental health or addiction issues that made them more prone to depression and suicide.
As the report noted: “One explanation could be that those who are at risk of alcoholism, a risk factor for suicide, are attracted to occupations where alcohol is freely available. In other words, predefined characteristics may attract people to certain lines of work which increases their suicide risk.”
Commenting on the study, the report’s author and CEO of Public Health England, Duncan Selbie, said: “Suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50, and more women are taking their own lives each year.
“People who die from suicide are usually not in contact with health services, and often push through in silence as their ability to cope deteriorates.
“With more than two thirds of adults in employment, the workplace offers an opportunity to reach people who need extra support,” he said.
