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Male suicide among construction workers in Australia: a qualitative analysis of the major stressors precipitating death

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journal contribution
posted on 2017-06-01, 00:00 authored by Allison Milner, Humaira Maheen, D Dianne, Tony LaMontagneTony LaMontagne
Background: Suicide rates among those employed in male-dominated professions such as construction are elevated compared to other occupational groups. Thus far, past research has been mainly quantitative and has been unable to identify the complex range of risk and protective factors that surround these suicides.Methods: We used a national coronial database to qualitatively study work and non-work related influences on male suicide occurring in construction workers in Australia. We randomly selected 34 cases according to specific sampling framework. Thematic analysis was used to develop a coding structure on the basis of preexisting theories in job stress research.Results: The following themes were established on the basis of mutual consensus: mental health issues prior to death, transient working experiences (i.e., the inability to obtain steady employment), workplace injury and chronic illness, work colleagues as a source of social support, financial and legal problems, relationship breakdown and child custody issues, and substance abuse.Conclusion: Work and non-work factors were often interrelated pressures prior to death. Suicide prevention for construction workers needs to take a systematic approach, addressing work-level factors as well as helping those at risk of suicide

History

Journal

BMC public health

Volume

17

Article number

584

Pagination

1 - 9

Publisher

BioMed Central

Location

London, Eng.

ISSN

1471-2458

Language

eng

Publication classification

C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2017, The Authors