Suicidal feelings and work environment in psychiatric nursing personnel

Author(s): Gustavsson, J. P., Petterson, I. L., Arnetz, B., Asberg, M.

Journal/Book: Soc Psychiat Psychiat Epidem. 1997; 32: 175 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10010. Springer Verlag. 391-397.

Abstract: Suicidal feelings, attempted suicide and aspects of work environment and well-being in Swedish psychiatric nursing personnel were studied using a questionnaire. The questionnaire, containing 190 questions, was mailed to all 242 nurses and attendants working in psychiatric care at the department of psychiatry at Karolinska Hospital. Eighty-one percent (n = 197) returned the questionnaire. Suicidal feelings ''last year'' were lower than in the general population, but suicidal feeling and attempted suicide ''earlier than last year'' were much more common, and 13% reported that they had attempted suicide earlier in life. In order to study the possible association between work environment and suicide, a factor analysis was performed. Four factors were extracted and labelled: suicidality? quality of work, negative work environment and burn out/depression. The correlation between the factors suggests that negative work environment is associated with burn out/depression, which in turn is related to suicidality. No direct link was demonstrated between suicidality and work environment, and completed suicide was not investigated. The study provides some indirect evidence that a negative work environment may increase suicidal feelings.

Note: Article Samuelsson M, Karolinska Hosp, Dept Psychiat, S-17176 Stockholm, SWEDEN

Keyword(s): GENERAL-POPULATION; BURNOUT; NURSES; HEALTH; HOPELESSNESS; PERCEPTIONS; OCCUPATIONS; PHYSICIANS; DEPRESSION; STRESS

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