Work-related risk factors for mental health conditions and suicide: a study of the entire employed population in NZ

We propose to conduct a prospective study, utilising Statistics New Zealand’s Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), that will examine the associations between occupation and suicide/self-harm and mental health service use and treatment, for the entire working population of New Zealand (NZ) for the period 2013 to 2019.

 The specific aims of the study are to assess:

1) which occupational groups/industries are associated with elevated risks of self-harm/suicide and mental health service use/treatment;

2) whether male-dominated occupations have a higher risk of mental health service use/treatment and self-harm/suicide;

3) associations between work type, long hours, nightshift and sedentary work and mental health service use/treatment; and

4) associations between country of birth and year of migration and mental health service use/treatment. The ultimate goal is to increase understanding of occupational risk/protective factors and provide a platform to develop novel and effective prevention strategies to reduce work-related mental illness.