title: Does the resources sector have higher suicide rates? A comparative analysis of suicide rates among men in the mining industry and other occupations, in Queensland (Australia).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Australia is one of the world's foremost mining nations. Over the past decade, the number of resources sector employees has risen steadily. It is increasingly suggested in lay press and popular discourse that mining industry employees (the majority of whom are men) face an elevated risk of suicide relative to the general population, and that suicide rates are higher among mining industry employees relative to other occupations. However, there has been no empirical evaluation of this proposal, which impedes the ability to develop appropriate policy responses.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study begins to fill knowledge gaps, by providing the first quantitative examination of suicide rates in the mining industry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the Queensland Suicide Register were used to examine suicide rates in the resources sector, relative to other sectors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mining industry was found to have lower male suicide rates relative to other occupations and the working-age male population overall.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings do not support the view that mining industry employment is necessarily associated with elevated suicide rates. Many factors, ranging from individual personality characteristics through to workplace policies, may contribute to this observation.
authors.forename: Samara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McPhedran
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Mining; occupation; suicide