Drug use and suicidal behavior at work

Abstract

This chapter addresses the intersection between three important elements in the context of the work environment, namely, the use of psychoactive substances, the ideation and attempt of suicide, and demand and control factors in work environment. Among the factors related to the etiology of suicide are those related to genetics and family inheritance, those linked to personality traits and precipitating factors, associated to stressful personal experiences. With special attention to the last ones, given the combination of these elements, risk factors and protection to the worker's mental health can be better understood, especially aiming at care and prevention actions. In order to understand the suffering of the workers, as well as the use of substances and the plan to put an end to their lives, it is necessary to analyze the context of labor relations at the public health and labor policies levels, precarious working conditions, loss of rights, insecurity as well as in organizational policies, job design, interpersonal relations, and worker autonomy.