Exploring Risk Factors of Suicidal Behaviour among Medical Professionals in the UK: A Retrospective Analysis of Online News Portals

Maruthi Kalyan Challagundla

School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, Essex, UK.

Divya Vinnakota

Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, University of Sunderland, London, UK.

Qazi M. Rahman

NHS London, UK.

Ancy Chandrababu Mercy Bai

School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, Essex, UK.

Russell Kabir *

School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, Essex, UK.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Suicide is a significant global health burden. The demanding nature of the healthcare profession, combined with unique stressors and challengses, puts medical professionals at risk of mental health difficulties, including suicidal ideation and attempts. This study aims to investigate suicidal behaviour among medical professionals in the United Kingdom by reviewing online news portals and focusing on the risk factors associated with suicide. Seven online news portals from the UK were purposefully selected for the study, focusing on news reports of suicides among medical professionals. Only English online news portals were chosen, as English is the standard language in the country. Out of the 61 reports, 37.7% of the reported suicides were among males, and 62.3% were among females. The age distribution of the suicide reports revealed that the majority of the cases are within the 20-30 age range (42.6%). Mental health issues and fear of losing their job were also prominent reasons (24.6%). Suicide among healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom has drawn little attention. Suicide is more prevalent in early adulthood and among female professionals. Nurses, doctors, and junior doctors are more likely to commit suicide.

Keywords: Suicide, health professionals, content analysis, online newspapers, mental health, communications media


How to Cite

Challagundla, Maruthi Kalyan, Divya Vinnakota, Qazi M. Rahman, Ancy Chandrababu Mercy Bai, and Russell Kabir. 2024. “Exploring Risk Factors of Suicidal Behaviour Among Medical Professionals in the UK: A Retrospective Analysis of Online News Portals”. Advances in Research 25 (4):78-86. https://doi.org/10.9734/air/2024/v25i41083.

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