Suicidal Ideation by Selected Mental Health Conditions and Demographic Variables among Workers in a Large Non-Profit Organization in the United States

This paper identifies rates of suicidal ideation by certain demographic variables and selected mental health conditions. Analyses utilize medical claims data for adult employees aged 18-64 years in a large corporation during 2017-2021. Rates are calculated and adjusted by age, sex, and marital status. Among employees, significantly higher rates of suicidal ideation are in ages 18-39 years, women, and singles. Significantly higher rates also occur in those experiencing one of several mental health conditions, after adjusting for demographic variables. Associations involving ADHD and OCD become insignificant after further adjustment for comorbid mental illness. The higher rate of suicidal ideation for women is not significant in ages 50-64 and significantly decreases for anxiety and depression with older age. Further, the associations involving age, adjustment disorders, and schizophrenia significantly depend on sex. Suicidal ideation rates are significantly lower in ages 50-64 for women, and the higher rates of suicidal ideation for employees with adjustment disorders or schizophrenia are significantly greater for men than women. Higher rates of suicidal ideation occur in younger age, women, and singles. Adjustment disorders, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are associated with suicidal ideation after adjusting for demographic variables and comorbid mental health conditions. The strongest associations involve depression and schizophrenia.