Pharmacists are at elevated risk for suicide, study finds

A new national study led by researchers from University of California San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences  reveals that pharmacists and female pharmacy technicians face a significantly higher risk of suicide compared to their counterparts in the general population. The findings, published in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, underscore the urgent need for improved workplace policies, mental health resources and stigma reduction in pharmacy settings. They also speak to the broader issue of burnout severity in health care workers. 

“Pharmacists are an invisible workforce that drive the engine of medication delivery in every health care setting,” said Kelly Lee, PharmD, professor of clinical pharmacy at Skaggs School of Pharmacy. “Every medication that reaches a patient has been touched by a pharmacist and/or a pharmacy technician. These health care workers are under unique strains, but it can be difficult to seek help. We need to make it easier.”

“Our study helps confirm that pharmacists and female pharmacy technicians are at high risk for suicide nationwide” added first author Hirsh Makhija, a medical student at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “While wellness promotion has slowly progressed for the pharmacy workforce, substantial gaps remain.” 

The study analyzed data from across the U.S., using the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) from 2011 to 2022. The study’s key findings were:

• Pharmacists were about 21% more likely to die by suicide than people in the general population.

• By sex, female pharmacists had a comparable risk to women in the general population, male pharmacists faced a 25% higher risk than other men.

• Although pharmacy technicians overall had about a 14% lower risk of suicide, female pharmacy technicians had a 22% higher risk of suicide than women in the general population.

• Males account for 76% of pharmacist suicides and 39% of pharmacy technician suicides, while females account for 24% and 61%, respectively

The researchers also looked into the factors driving suicide deaths among pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, finding that job-related stress and mental health could both be significant factors. Pharmacists were more likely to experience workplace problems prior to suicide, and pharmacy technicians were more likely to have a history of mental health challenges.

To Lee, these findings speak to the broader issues of managing mental health and burnout in highly demanding health care work settings.

“The field talks a lot about mental health, especially after COVID, but our overall work culture hasn’t changed,” she said. “Access to mental health resources is limited, and stigma continues to be a major barrier to seeking help.”

Lee also notes that pharmacists face unique workplace challenges that likely exacerbate these negative mental health trends. For example, the increasing clinical responsibilities for pharmacists — such as administering vaccinations and helping manage ongoing health conditions — have not been matched by recognition or reimbursement. Pharmacists also face frequent challenges with insurance approvals, prior authorizations, and payment for medications.

“Pharmacists are highly trained, but unlike other health care providers, we’re not necessarily paid for our clinical services,” she said. “The lack of payment and recognition adds to the strain facing these workers.” 

To help mitigate some of the challenges pharmacists and other health care workers face, Lee emphasizes that more resources and compassionate workplace policies are needed. For example, UC San Diego has piloted programs such as the HEAR initiative to provide immediate support for health care workers in crisis.

“Employers must create environments where taking time for mental health is normalized and supported. It shouldn’t be difficult for someone to seek help,” she said.

The research team is now focused on implementing and studying targeted interventions for at-risk health care workers, including pharmacy professionals.

“Our goal is to prevent even a single suicide,” said Lee. “That means immediate access to help, reducing stigma, and workplace policies that truly support mental health.” 

Link to full study: https://academic.oup.com/ajhp/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ajhp/zxag006/8416933.

Additional coauthors of the study include Judy E. Davidson, Sidney Zisook, and Nam Nguyen at UC San Diego School of Medicine; Arianna Barnes at Barnes Jewish Hospital and Amanda Choflet at Northeastern University.

The research was unfunded.

Disclosures: Kelly Lee reports consulting for LexiDrugs and honoraria from WebMD Health Corp. Sidney Zisook reports grants from Compass Pathways. The other authors report no competing interests.