Suicide following work-related injury in Victoria, Australia

In Australia, both work-related injuries and suicide are substantial public health problems and the quantification of an association largely unexplored. Interrogation of the Victorian Work-Related Fatalities Database (VWRFD) revealed 62 suicides between July 2000 and December 2008 associated with work-related injury. The majority of these work injury suicides were male (83.8%), chronic pain was reported for 43.5% and psychopathology, particularly depression in 74.2%. Where body part was recorded (n = 52), 57.6% were back injuries. One-half of the suicides occurred within five years of the injury, 20% within six months. Suicide following work-related injury appears to be an under-recognised work-related issue with emerging patterns.