Suicide and the dental profession
Warning: this post contains content that is sensitive and confronting and may cause some people distress. There are details of support services here and at the end of the article if reading this raises issues or concerns for you.
It is often reported that dentists have a high rate of suicide, and this is linked to the stress of working in dental practice. Some research in the 1960s and 1970s reported higher rates of suicide in American dentists compared with the other professions and the general population, and this has led to the narrative that dentistry is a profession at higher risk of suicide.
Suicide is certainly a significant issue in Australia, with 3,249 deaths by suicide in 2022 (men are three times more likely to take their own life than females - 2,455 males and 794 females deaths) representing 1.7% of all deaths. The suicide rate has increased from 10.2 per 100,000 people in 2006 to 12.3 per 100,000 in 2022. The greatest proportion of deaths by suicide occurred during mid-life, with more than half of all suicides in 2020 occurring in people aged 30-59 years, however the highest suicide rate for males was in those aged 85 or older. Suicide is the leading cause of death for young people, with one third of all deaths for people aged 15-24 years due to suicide.
Research conducted by the Black Dog Institute has identified people working in the veterinary, dental, medical and legal professions at higher risk of suicide. Research in Australian dental practitioners found that around 1 in 6 reported thoughts of suicide in the previous 12 months, nearly 1 in 3 had thoughts of suicide prior to the previous 12 months and 5.6% had ever made an attempt to take their own life. These are rates higher than reported in the large Beyond Blue study of Australian medical practitioners in 2013.
Stigma continues to be a significant issue with mental health – health professionals feel like they have to be invulnerable and cannot show weakness. It prevents people from seeking care. It prevents people talking about their mental health in the same way they might about their physical health. As a profession we need to be more open to talking about mental health, to help ourselves and our colleagues.
You might know that someone is struggling to cope or facing a difficult time, but not know what to say or how to help. Checking in and asking if they are OK might seem difficult, but it could be a life-saving conversation. Letting someone know that you care, or that you have noticed a change in their behaviour is a good place to start the conversation. It can also be useful to start with a statement such as “I have noticed that you seem really down at the moment.”
There are plenty of confidential services that are available to help and support – please make sure that if you are experiencing any issues of anxiety, depression, burnout or thoughts of suicide, that you seek professional help.
Lifeline 13 11 14
Black Dog Institute Recognise and Respond – Suicide Prevention
StandBy Support After Suicide 1300 727 247