Mental Health for the Work You Do

1.5× higher suicide rate than the general population. ~1 in 4 meet criteria for PTSD.

Suicide now kills more firefighters annually than line-of-duty deaths. ~20% meet criteria for PTSD.

Paramedics have the highest PTSD rate of any first-responder role (~22%). Burnout affects 50-70% of EMS workers.

~17 veterans die by suicide daily. Post-9/11 veterans: 23% higher depression rate than civilian peers. Moral injury affects ~25% of combat veterans.

Physician suicide rate is 2× general population. ~40% report burnout. Male physicians: 1.4× higher suicide risk than female physicians.

Nurse suicide rate is 18% higher than general population. ~50% report burnout. Male nurses report higher isolation — only ~13% of nurses are men.

~44% of teachers report high stress. Male teachers face gender isolation (especially elementary: ~11% male). Post-pandemic burnout at all-time highs.

PTSD rate: ~27%. Life expectancy is 16 years shorter than general population. Suicide rate 39% higher than police.

Farmer suicide rate is 1.5× the general population. Farm Aid estimates >50% of farmers report struggles with mental health but only ~20% seek help.

Construction has the 2nd-highest suicide rate of any industry (53/100k vs. 17/100k general). Overdose deaths 6× the national average. ~90% male industry.

Truckers have depression rates 2-4× the general population. Isolation is the single largest reported stressor.

~24 service members die by suicide per 100,000 annually. Army and Marine rates highest. 41% of active duty experience a mental health condition.

~28% of attorneys have clinical depression (vs. 8% general). 21% are 'problem drinkers.' Law students: depression triples between 1L and 3L year.

~54% of pastors say their work is hazardous to their family life. 70% say they don't have close friends. ~30% think about quitting ministry monthly.

~49% of CEOs report mental health challenges. Founder depression: 2× general population. CEO tenure is shorter than ever — ~5 years.

Finance has the 4th-highest burnout rate. Analyst burnout: ~60%. Addiction rates in finance are 2× general population.

~40% of tech workers report burnout. Silicon Valley founder depression: 2×. 'Tech worker' is a top-10 profession by anxiety rates.

45-55% burnout rates. Higher trauma exposure than most first responders. Post-COVID: 20-30% of healthcare workers meet PTSD criteria.

Hospitality workers have the highest substance use of any industry (~17%). Sleep deprivation + irregular schedules. Low access to employer-sponsored health care.

Pilots historically underreport mental health issues due to FAA medical fears. One-third of airline pilots have experienced significant depression; 4% report suicidal ideation.

Depression and anxiety rates are similar to general population DURING career, but dramatically elevated AFTER retirement. ~35% of retired NFL players meet clinical depression criteria.

~50% of founders report mental health issues during their company's life. Founder depression: 2× general population. Bipolar and ADHD overrepresented.

Child protection social workers have PTSD rates comparable to combat veterans (~31%). Turnover is ~20% annually in CPS.

Highest fatality rate of any US occupation. High isolation + financial volatility + masculine culture = high depression + drinking rates.

Reservists and Guard members have HIGHER suicide rates than active-duty — by ~25%. Civilian-military whiplash is the reported reason.

~50% of men returning from prison have a diagnosable mental health disorder. Suicide rate in first 6 months post-release is 12× general population.

~10% of new fathers experience postpartum depression. Rates increase if partner has PPD (up to ~50% correlation).

~38% of SAHDs report loneliness as a significant stressor. Depression rates similar to stay-at-home mothers but seeking help less.

~40% of grad students have depression. Tenure-track depression: ~25%. Adjunct/contingent faculty: higher rates across the board.

War/conflict journalists: ~29% meet PTSD criteria. Newsroom layoffs cause measurable depression spikes. ~20% of journalists in one survey reported suicidal ideation in the past year.