National Study Finds Pharmacists Face 21% Higher Suicide Risk

Overview

• The peer-reviewed analysis of 2011–2022 NVDRS data, published in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, quantified elevated suicide risk among U.S. pharmacists.
• Male pharmacists had a 25% higher risk compared with other men, while female pharmacists had a risk comparable to women in the general population.
• Pharmacy technicians overall showed a 14% lower risk, but female technicians had a 22% higher risk than women in the general population.
• Researchers reported pharmacists were more likely to face workplace problems before death, whereas technicians more often had prior mental-health histories.
• UC San Diego highlighted the need for policy changes, stigma reduction, and targeted interventions, noting existing pilots such as the HEAR initiative; the study was unfunded and author disclosures were reported.