ABSTRACT

Self-inflicted violence accounts for around half of the 1.6 million violent de-aths that occur every year worldwide. Deliberate self-harm is one of the top five causes of acute medical admissions to hospital, and the most common subgroup of deliberate self-harm is deliberate self-poisoning. Suicide rates are higher in certain educational groups. The highest rates are generally fo-und in healthcare workers. Nurses are the largest occupational subgroup of healthcare workers and the suicide rate is high in this group. A female nurse working in the intensive care unit of the cardiovascular surgery department attempted suicide by injecting herself with sodium pentothal via an IV cat-heter. She was followed in the intensive care unit for a month by mechanical ventilation support and at the end of the month she died. Healthcare workers under intensive physical and psychological working conditions may attempt suicide using lethal methods. Hospital managers and healthcare workers must develop strategies to handle stress and stay healthy and productive.