Suicide among hospitality workers in Australia, 2006–2017

Abstract

Purpose: Suicide among hospitality workers has recently attracted attention in the media. To date, little is known about suicide among hospitality workers in Australia. Methods: Suicide data were obtained from the National Coronial Information System (NCIS). Occupational suicide rates were calculated using the Australian Bureau of Statistics population-level data from the 2011 census. Negative binomial regression, univariate logistic regression, and multivariate logistic regression were used to estimate the association between suicide and employment as a hospitality worker over the period 2006–2017, compared to all other occupations. Results: Suicide rates for chefs was significantly higher than for persons in non-hospitality occupations [incidence rate ratio (IRR), 3.93; 95% CI 2.53–5.79; P < 0.001]. The interaction between occupation and sex was examined with follow-up testing. Suicide rates for female chefs were significantly higher than for females in non-hospitality occupations (IRR, 3.93; 95% CI 2.60–5.94). Suicide rates for male chefs were also significantly higher than males in non-hospitality occupations (IRR, 1.38; 95% CI 1.14–1.67). Compared with non-hospitality occupations, hospitality workers who died by suicide had significantly greater odds of being female (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.50–0.79), residing in residential Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) classified as most disadvantaged (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.19–2.20), and being born outside of Australia (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.34–2.25). Conclusion: Results indicate the need for targeted prevention of suicide by Australian hospitality workers. Overall, results suggest that specific hospitality occupations present a higher risk of suicidal behaviour than other non-hospitality occupations.