From ibis.utah.gov Utah Health Status Updates: Suicide by job type
Suicide by job type in Utah
Suicide is a serious public health concern across the nation, including in Utah, which impacts people, families, and communities in a negative way. In 2023, suicide was the second leading cause of death for Utahns ages 10–44, which puts Utah at the 7th highest suicide rate in the U.S. On average, nearly 2 Utahns die by suicide and 14 are treated for self- inflicted injuries every day. The majority (86%) of suicide deaths were among those of working age (16–64). Understanding industry sectors (job types) with higher rates of suicide can help inform evidence-based intervention for those most at risk.
The job types with the highest suicide death rates in Utah were:
1. mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
2. construction
3. agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
If we just look at the job types with the top 3 suicide rates, most of those who died were male. These job types are mostly held by males, and males are more than 3 times more likely to die by suicide than females. Construction job types had the second highest rate of suicide deaths, but the highest total number of deaths by suicide. This is in part due to the very large number of people who work in construction. Nearly 1 in 5 people who died by suicide worked in construction job types. The 3 job types with the highest suicide rates are mainly based in rural areas. This reflects the general trend across Utah with suicide rates often higher in rural areas than urban areas. Those who died by suicide in the job types with the top 3 highest rates of suicide death were more likely to use a firearm. Among all male suicide victims, 61.4% used a firearm. Access to lethal means, including firearms, increases risk of suicide death. During vulnerable or stressful times, delaying access to a gun could mean the difference between life and death. This could mean you ask a trusted family member or friend to hold the firearm outside the home during times of crisis, lock up the firearm, or store the ammunition in a different location than the firearm. Those who died by suicide in the job types with the 3 highest rates were far less likely to have received mental health treatment, with those in the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction job types the least likely to have received mental health treatment (28.3%). Efforts to reduce stigma around asking for help is a key way to prevent suicide. Likewise, increasing access to care, especially in rural areas, can help address this issue.
The Utah Suicide Prevention State Plan provides guidance on how people and communities can address suicide and includes strategies for primary prevention, intervention, and postvention response. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, as well as prevention and crisis resources for loved ones. To learn more about suicide, suicide prevention in the workplace, and request suicide prevention training where you work, go to utahsuicideprevention.org/workplace/. For more resources on suicide prevention visit:
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 988lifeline.org
• SafeUT app, safeut.org
• Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition, https://utahsuicideprevention.org/
• LiveOn Utah, liveonutah.org
• National Alliance on Mental Illness Utah Chapter, https://namiut.org
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, https://afsp.org
• Find treatment for mental health and substance use problems: https://findtreatment.gov/ or by calling
the Intermountain Behavioral Health Navigation Line: 833-442-2211.
