Study: Pharmacists, Female Pharmacy Technicians at a Higher Risk of Suicide Than General Population

Recent research published in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy shows that pharmacists and female pharmacy technicians are at a higher risk of suicide compared with their counterparts and the general population. These findings underscore an urgent need for improved workplace policies, mental health resources for health care professionals, and reduced stigma across all pharmacy settings.¹

How Common Is Burnout Within Health Systems and Places of Employment?

Specifically, burnout and high work demands are common in health care workplaces. A previous Pharmacy Times survey asked 160 pharmacists in various settings—including community chain, community independent, health system, other, and unemployed at the time of response—about their experiences with burnout and the symptoms they experienced, key drivers of burnout, and whether their employers were addressing working conditions. The average reported level of experienced burnout was about 7.25 of 10, with workload (17.4%), management (14.6%), and lack of work-life balance (14.1%) being key drivers, among others (eg, lack of trained staff, challenges with providers/other departments).²

Most notably, burnout has appeared to be exacerbated or driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, with pharmacists having to adapt to growing demands and fewer resources. The surveyed pharmacists were asked to report the pandemic’s effect on burnout and whether that contributed to understaffed health systems. Interestingly, the surveyed population rated their burnout as 4.91 prior to the pandemic. Both ratings significantly affect the broader pharmacy workforce, with approximately 85% (n = 136) considering alternative career paths due to burnout.²

When left unaddressed, burnout can lead to poor mental health conditions or worsen preexisting mental health disorders. For the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy study, the authors used pharmacist, pharmacy technician, and general population suicides (individuals aged ≥25 years) identified with the National Violent Death Reporting System. Due to data limitations, suicide incidence was estimated from 2011 to 2022; however, suicide characteristics (eg, preceding circumstances, method, and toxicology) were analyzed in adjusted Firth logistic regression models from 2005 to 2022.¹

What Did the Findings Demonstrate?

A total of 369 pharmacists, 243 pharmacy technicians, and 245,114 general population suicides were found for the period from 2011 to 2022. Among these respective subpopulations, 87 (24%), 149 (61%), and 52,890 (22%) were female. When data were standardized by sex, pharmacists had a higher risk of suicide (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.21; 95% CI, 1.09-1.34), whereas pharmacy technicians had a lower risk (IRR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.74-0.99) than individuals in the general population during the 2011 to 2022 study period. Male pharmacists had a higher risk of suicide than other male populations in the study (IRR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.11-1.41), and female technicians had a higher risk than other females (IRR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.04-1.44). Regarding features associated with suicide, pharmacists had higher odds of preceding job problems, and pharmacy technicians had higher odds of mental health problems compared with those in the general population.¹

“The field talks a lot about mental health, especially after [the] COVID[-19 pandemic], but our overall work culture hasn’t changed,” Kelly Lee, PharmD, professor of clinical pharmacy at UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, explained in a news release. “Access to mental health resources is limited, and stigma continues to be a major barrier to seeking help. Pharmacists are highly trained, but unlike other health care providers, we’re not necessarily paid for our clinical services. The lack of payment and recognition adds to the strain facing these workers.”³

According to the Pharmacy Times burnout survey, some companies and health systems have taken steps to improve workplace conditions and burnout levels; however, just 36.9% of respondents said their company has taken steps toward improvement, whereas 58.8% reported the opposite. Of the pharmacists working for companies that have made steps toward improvement, 46.3% reported they were ineffective, and 9.4% said that they were effective.² These results, in addition to those shown in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy survey, emphasize a need for change within health systems and places of employment.

“Employers must create environments where taking time for mental health is normalized and supported. It shouldn’t be difficult for someone to seek help,” Lee urged. “Our goal is to prevent even a single suicide. That means immediate access to help, reducing stigma, and workplace policies that truly support mental health.”³

REFERENCES

1. Makhija H, Davidson JE, Barnes A, et al. National trends in pharmacist and pharmacy technician suicide: incidence and associated features. Am J Health Syst Pharm. Published online January 8, 2026. doi:10.1093/ajhp/zxag006

2. McGovern G. Women more likely to face burnout in health care, system-wide solutions are needed to address issues. Pharmacy Times. October 22, 2024. Accessed January 12, 2026. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/women-more-likely-to-face-burnout-in-health-care-system-wide-solutions-are-needed-to-address-issues

3. Pharmacists are at elevated risk for suicide, study finds. News release. University of California San Diego. January 8, 2026. Accessed January 12, 2026. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1112057