title: Suicidality among Hong Kong nurses: prevalence and correlates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study estimates the prevalence and examines the socio-economic and psychological correlates of suicidality among professional nurses in Hong Kong.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Suicide rates among middle-aged employed groups have been increasing over the past few decades. There is a concern that medical occupational groups worldwide are at elevated risk of suicide. Nonetheless there are few population-based studies of suicide dealing with working-age Asian nurses.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study uses a cross-sectional survey design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected in Hong Kong over 4 weeks from October-November 2013. Statistical methods including descriptive analysis and univariate and multivariate cumulative logit modelling were used to examine the weighted prevalence rates of past-year suicidality and its associated factors in nurses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 850 nurses participated in the study; 14·9% of participants had contemplated suicide while 2·9% had attempted suicide once or more in the past year. Women report suicidal thoughts or attempts more often than men. Religion, poor health, deliberate self-harm, depressive symptoms and poor self-perceived physical and mental health were significantly associated with nurses' suicidality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurse professionals are not immune from mental health issues. Hong Kong's local health authority should put in place a raft of suicide prevention initiatives to promote mental wellness in the profession.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Teris
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Paul H
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5729-6450
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Paul S F
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Yip
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017132:Workplace
keywords: anxiety; depression; mental health; nurses; stress; suicidal ideation; suicidality