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These are the professions where people are most likely to kill themselves

Alan Kotok/Flickr
Alan Kotok/Flickr

A new study into suicide rates has cast light on how our professions have an impact on our health and wellbeing.

Research conducted by America's Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows a correlation between job and death by suicide, further suggesting that some work can breed or contribute towards depression and illness.

The study covers 17 states in the US and is believed to be the largest to compare suicide rates by occupation. It's not entirely comprehensive, but it does provide reputable and wide-scale statistics into the matter.

In one condensed table of results, it's evident that farmers, lumberjacks, and fishermen are among the most likely to kill themselves. Those in construction - people who often work in isolation or in irregular, unsteady employment - are more at risk too.

These groups are followed by the likes of carpenters, miners, and electricians. In contrast, food service workers, teachers, and those in the childcare industry are far less likely to do themselves harm.

Here's a snapshot of the ten most likely to die by suicide:

CDC

The research also highlights the fact that men per role are statistically more likely to kill themselves than women.

As evident here:

However, there's also the point that suicide rates in women are rising - and women are three times more likely than men to attempt suicide. Those in professions with duty, care and intensity, like firefighters and police officers, are prevalent.

The figures also show that suicide rates in the US as a whole are increasing. Here's the study in full with complete tables.

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