In the past year, more than 3% of healthcare workers, including dentists, in the U.S. reported attempting suicide, and a combined 20% reported thinking about or planning to end their lives. The study was published on August 1 in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.
Increased compassion fatigue, a state of physical and emotional exhaustion that prevents a person from empathizing with others, was significantly linked to greater odds of thinking, planning, or attempting suicide in the past year, the authors wrote.
“Findings suggest that higher compassion fatigue is linked to increased suicidality among healthcare workers, highlighting the need to address compassion fatigue as a potential risk factor,” wrote the authors, led by Rachel Hoopsick, PhD, of the department of health and kinesiology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Healthcare workers who don’t have positive psychological well-being are not only risking their health but the care of their patients. Therefore, it’s imperative that the healthcare workforce’s mental health needs are evaluated, according to the study.
Although compassion fatigue, which may include depersonalization and career dissatisfaction, and suicide risk among healthcare workers have been investigated separately, the possible correlation between the two has rarely been studied until now.
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To explore the relationship, cross-sectional data from 200 U.S. healthcare workers, including dentists, nurses, doctors, social workers, and psychologists, were analyzed. Then logistic regression models examined relationships between compassion fatigue and suicidal thoughts, planning, and attempts, the authors wrote.
Among the participants, the risk of suicide was prevalent. In the past year, 14% of healthcare workers reported suicidal thoughts, 6% reported planning suicide, and 3.5% reported attempting suicide, they wrote.
Furthermore, heightened compassion fatigue was significantly correlated with increased odds of past-year suicidal thoughts (odds ratio [OR] = 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 to 1.16), suicide planning (OR = 1.10; 95 % CI, 1.02 to 1.19), and suicide attempts (OR = 1.10; 95 % CI: 1.01 to 1.21).
Nevertheless, the study had shortcomings. The researchers were limited in identifying which roles may be at an increased risk for compassion fatigue-associated suicidality due to the sample size. This limitation shines a light on a gap in understanding which positions may experience stress that could make them more vulnerable to suicide, the authors wrote.
Future studies should explore compassion fatigue within specific specialties to identify those most vulnerable to suicide, they wrote.
“In conclusion, there is an urgent need to screen for and address the early onset of compassion fatigue among healthcare professionals,” Hoopsick and colleagues wrote.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
