Teachers have the lowest suicide rate of any profession, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.
The suicide rate among people in education, training and library jobs was 7.5 per 100,000 workers. That’s the lowest rate among all 22 occupations included in the report.
Male teachers had the lowest suicide rate of men in any job. Female teachers had the second lowest.
Workers in farming, fishing, and forestry jobs had the highest rate: 84.5 per 100,000 workers.
The researchers didn’t investigate why the rate for teachers was lower than other professions.
But they did note that higher rates in some other professions could be due to job-related isolation and demands, stressful work environments, work-home imbalance, as well as lower incomes and education levels and lack of access to health services.
The CDC report was based on 2012 data from 17 states, not including Georgia, and Census data.
The report's authors note that employers can provide education and training in recognizing suicide warning signs and can ensure that employees are aware of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, (800) 273-8255.
About the Author
