Male-Dominated Occupations, Employment Status, and Suicidal Behaviors Among Australian Men.

Suicide rates are higher among unemployed men as well as those employed in male-dominated occupations such as construction. There has been less research on whether these patterns are similar for suicide ideation and attempt. In a cohort of 13,892 Australian males, this study examined the relationship between employment status and occupational gender ratio on reported thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts. Men reporting suicide ideation or attempts at Wave 1 were removed from the sample. Logistic regression was used to examine Wave 1 employment status and occupational gender ratio and Wave 2 reported suicide ideation and attempts, controlling for confounders (measured in Wave 1). We conducted a sensitivity analysis controlling for mental health status. Those who were unemployed or not in the labor force had elevated rates of suicide ideation (unemployed = 1.91, 95% CI [1.30, 2.82], = .001; not in the labor force  = 1.68, 95% CI [1.09, 2.60], = .020). Those who were not in the labor force had greater odds of attempts ( = 2.32, 95% CI [1.05, 5.12], = .037). There was no association between occupational gender ratio and suicide ideation or attempt. We only had single item measures of ideation and attempts. There is a need for further investigation into risk factors for suicide among males, both when they are in and out of employment.