Researchers have found a link between worker injuries and a higher rate of incidents of suicide. They also found a connection between these injuries and the likelihood of overdosing from painkillers. They have added to their previous research that found workers who had to take a minimum of one week away from work due to a workplace injury were 20% more likely to die from any cause following the workplace accident. They argue that the current research explains the role of suicide and opioids as major causes of these post-injury deaths.
About the Study
The study was authored by researchers at the Boston University School of Public Health who examined the possible connection between workplace injury and the later death of injured workers. They reviewed cases involving more than 100,000 workers in New Mexico. More than 36,000 of these workers had injuries that caused them to miss work at some point between 1994 and 2000. The researchers also reviewed other data, including the following:
- Data from the Social Security Administration on earnings and mortality up to the year 2013
- Workers’ compensation data for 1994 to 2000
- Data from the National Death Index up to the year 2017
The study was published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.
Study Findings
Researchers found that an injury that resulted in at least one week off of work nearly triples the combined risk of suicide and overdose death for women workers. These injuries were connected with an increased risk of death from these causes by 50 percent for men. More specific findings include:
- Men who lost at least one week of work because of an injury had a 72% higher probability of committing suicide
- Women who lost at least one week of work due to a workplace injury had a 92% higher probability of committing suicide
- Men who lost at least one week of work due to a workplace injury had a 29% higher probability of dying from an overdose
- Women who lost at least one week of work because of a workplace injury had a 193% higher probability of dying from an overdose
Importance of the Findings
One of the study’s senior authors says that the findings suggest that the work-related injuries contribute to the significant and prompt increase in deaths from suicides and opioids. The researchers believe that it is possible to improve the quality of life of workers who were injured on the job through mechanisms such as:
- Improved pain treatment
- Post-injury depression treatment
- Improved treatment of substance abuse disorders
Injured workers should work closely with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer who can help them seek the necessary medical treatment they need after a workplace accident. They can also help you evaluate your treatment options to maximize its impact on your physical and mental health.
