Employment loss during economic crisis and suicidal thoughts in Belgium: a survey in general practice

Background

The economic crisis of 2009 led to a wave of corporate reorganisations and bankruptcies, with many dismissals of employees. GPs were confronted with subsequent health consequences.

Aim

To assess the possible relationship between losing one’s job and having suicidal thoughts.

Design and setting

A survey of patients aged 18–49 years recruited from GP practices in Belgium in Deurne (Flemish region) and La Louvière (Walloon region) from September to December 2010.

Method

Anonymous self-administered questionnaire.

Results

Of all eligible patients (n = 1818), 831 were offered the questionnaire and 377 completed it (45.4%). More than one in five had been confronted with employment loss in the past year (the responder or someone close losing their job). Almost one in ten had lost their job themselves in the past year. More than one in four had experienced suicidal thoughts and 11.7% had seriously considered ending their life in the past year. In the logistic regression analysis, the following characteristics showed a statistically significant relationship with having suicidal thoughts: being single (odds ratio [OR] = 4.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.7 to 13.8), not having satisfying social contacts (OR = 5.1, 95% CI = 1.6 to 16.2), having depressive complaints (OR = 18.4, 95% CI = 5.8 to 58.4), and having lost one’s employment in the past year (OR = 8.8, 95% CI = 2.0 to 39.3).

Conclusion

This study points to a statistically significant relationship between losing one’s employment in the past year and having suicidal thoughts. It emphasises the important role of the GP in the continuous and reinforced assessment of suicidal risk in times of recession.     

Robert Liberman's Influence on Supported Employment

The authors have developed individual placement and support using many of the principles of psychiatric rehabilitation of Robert P. Liberman. These included respect for the individual, working in collaboration with the family, integrating skills and supports, using simple behavioral techniques to teach skills in a particular context, combining clinical and rehabilitative approaches, and insisting on rigorous research. As individual placement and support has become an evidence-based practice and has spread around the globe, Bob continues to be a tireless mentor, supporter, colleague, and friend.     

对94名本科男护生就业态度的调查与分析

目的了解在校本科男护生的就业认知和就业心态,为其就业提供参考。方法自行设计问卷,对94名男护生进行调查分析。结果男护生认为就业形势较好,但大部分不准备从事护理工作;对就业指导方面有较高的需求。结论护理工作需要男护生的加入,应加强男护生专业思想稳定性教育,使其正确认识就业现状,调整心态、顺利就业。     

我院招聘文职人员创新思路的做法与成效

军队医院招聘文职人员是军队人事制度改革的新举措。我院通过资格审核、体格检查、心理测试、相关理论与技能考核、体能测试及面试等招聘方法的实施,顺利完成了首批文职人员的招聘工作,并取得良好的效果。     

Work and family characteristics as socioeconomic determinants in long sickness absence: the Japanese civil servants study

Long sickness absence is more common among low socioeconomic status (SES) groups than high SES groups. This study aimed to evaluate whether work and family characteristics contribute to SES and sex differences in long sickness absence (7 days or more). The participants were 3080 civil servants working for a local Japanese government. In both sexes, low-grade employees were likely to take long sickness absence, with a statistically significant association for men (age-adjusted OR of lowest-grade employees for long sickness absence: 2.30 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.32–4.02)). After adjusting for all variables, SES differences in long sickness absence in men decreased to OR 1.98 (CI 1.10–3.55) but remained significant; in men, being without a spouse was significantly associated with long sickness absence. Employees working long hours had lower OR for long sickness absence after adjusting for all variables in both sexes. Conversely, poor sleep quality and longstanding illness significantly increased OR for long sickness absence. In conclusion, SES differences in sickness absence were explained partly by work and family characteristics, longstanding illness, and poor sleep quality; however, other factors that were not evaluated in this study may also be associated with SES differences.