Changes in workers' suicide rates before (2017-2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) by industry and occupation, National Violent Death Reporting System, 29 states Worker suicide during COVID-19

Objective To assess changes in suicide rates during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the previous three years according to occupation and industry. Methods Mortality rates using data from the National Violent Death Reporting System were calculated and compared according to occupation and industry for the three years before the COVID-19 Pandemic (2017 to 2019) and the first two years of the pandemic (2020 to 2021). Results There were significant increases in mortality rates for workers in Personal Care and Service and Farming, Fishing, and Forestry occupations. In adjusted models, workers in Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance and Construction and Extraction also had significant increases in mortality rates. Conclusions Further research should examine the factors that may have contributed to increases, including differential risk for COVID-19 and increases in unemployment during the pandemic.