History Matters
The economy has changed dramatically over the 50 years. People who used to work in the manufacturing, textile, and marine industries sometimes feel left behind in the newer service, technology, and knowledge-based economy. Many of these jobs used to be heavily unionized, but are less so now. Furthermore, salaries in many of these fields have failed to keep up with the rising costs of living. For some people, this has created resentment that leads them to hate-based or violent groups. [][]People who are unemployed or underemployed (in some of these industries) also experience a higher rate of suicide. []
In Massachusetts, an analysis of 2016-2019 data showed higher rates of suicide in: []
- The agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industries.
- Construction and extraction occupations.
- White, non-Hispanic workers.
- Workers aged 65 years and older.
- Workers in occupation groups with low percentages of workers covered by paid sick leave.
- Jobs with managerial responsibilities, public service responsibilities, or unequal gender representation. [][][]
- Veterinarians, dentists, and military (veterans). []
[VE13] U.S. Department of State. (n.d.). The U.S. Economy: A Brief History. https://usa.usembassy.de/etexts/oecon/chap3.htm
[VE14] Medina, R. M., Nicolosi, E., Brewer, S., & Linke, A. M. (2018). Geographies of Organized Hate in America: A Regional Analysis. Annals of the American Association of Geographers, 108(4), 1006-1021. https://doi.org/10.1080/24694452.2017.1411247
[VE15] Ramchand, R., Ayer, L., & O’Connor, S. (2022). Unemployment, Behavioral Health, and Suicide. Health Affairs Health Policy Brief. https://doi.org/10.1377/hpb20220302.274862
[VE16] Occupational Health Surveillance Program. (2022). Data Brief – Suicides in Massachusetts by Industry & Occupation: 2016-2019. Massachusetts Department of Public Health. https://www.mass.gov/doc/suicides-in-massachusetts-by-industry-occupation-2016-2019-0/download
[VE17] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2020, February 7). Workplace suicides reach historic high in 2018. TED: The Economics Daily. Retrieved January 3, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2020/workplace-suicides-reach-historic-high-in-2018.htm
[VE18] Milner, A., Witt, K., Maheen, H., & LaMontagne, A. D. (2017). Access to means of suicide, occupation and the risk of suicide: A national study over 12 years of Coronial Data. BMC Psychiatry, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1288-0
[VE19] Milner, A., & King, T. (2018). Men’s work, women’s work and suicide: A retrospective mortality study in Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 43(1), 27–32. https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12859
[VE20] Occupational Health Surveillance Program. (2022). Data Brief – Suicides in Massachusetts by Industry & Occupation: 2016-2019. Massachusetts Department of Public Health. https://www.mass.gov/doc/suicides-in-massachusetts-by-industry-occupation-2016-2019-0/download