James C. Helmkamp

Occupation and suicide among males in the US armed forces

During the period 1980 to 1992, 95% of the 3178 military suicide victims were men and 92% enlisted; of the men, 71% were aged 20 to 34, 82% were white, and 61% used a firearm. Information extracted from the Report of Casualty of the Worldwide Casualty System maintained by the Department of Defense was used to describe the occupational risk among military men. Occupations related to the use of or access to firearms were associated with a significant risk of suicide when compared to other military occupations. Collectively, military security and law enforcement specialists had a significant occupational rate ratio (1.25; 95% confidence interval: 1.02, 1.53; P < 0.05). This corresponds to findings from national civilian labor force fatality data where police and detectives are also at an elevated risk of suicide. Because the scope and work of these military high-risk groups may differ from service to service, additional occupational information should be examined to facilitate a better understanding of the complex etiology of suicide and to develop appropriate prevention strategies.

Risk Factors, Health Behaviors, and Injury Among Adults Employed in the Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities Super Sector

BACKGROUND The TWU super sector is engaged in the movement of passengers and cargo, warehousing of goods, and the delivery of services. The purpose of this study is to describe employee self-reported personal risk factors, health behaviors and habits, disease and chronic conditions, and employer-reported nonfatal injury experiences of workers in the TWU super sector. METHODS National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data for 1997-2007, grouped into six morbidity and disability categories and three age groups, were reviewed. Demographic characteristics and prevalence estimates are reported for workers in the TWU super sector and the entire U.S. workforce, and compared with national adult population data from the NHIS. Bureau of Labor Statistics employer-reported TWU injury data from 2003 to 2007 was also reviewed. RESULTS An average of 8.3 million workers were employed annually in the TWU super sector. TWU workers 65 or older reported the highest prevalence of hypertension (49%) across all industry sectors, but the 20% prevalence is notable among middle age workers (25-64). TWU workers had the highest prevalence of obesity (28%), compared to workers in all other industry sectors. Female TWU workers experienced the highest number of lost workdays (6.5) in the past year across all TWU demographic groups. CONCLUSIONS Self-reported high proportions of chronic conditions including hypertension and heart disease combined with elevated levels of being overweight and obese, and lack of physical activity-particularly among TWUs oldest workers-can meaningfully inform wellness strategies and interventions focused on this demographic group. Am. J. Ind. Med. 56:556-568, 2013.