Research aimed at the observed stress from being a dentist, and how it may have
impacted the occurrence of their suicide did not appear to be prevalent among empirical
suicide studies. The purpose of this basic, qualitative study was to explore how the
family members perceived occupational stress as precursor events in dentists who
committed suicide. Using the interpersonal theory of suicide as the conceptual basis, 4
family members of dentists who committed suicide were interviewed to understand how
family members perceived occupational stress in the dentist using semi structured
interviews. Through a series of precoding and recoding, interview data were analyzed to
identify similarities that may have identified the presence of occupational stressors as a
precursor to suicide. There were six themes identified in the data: (a) observations of
stress, (b) thwarted belongingness, (c) negative perceptions, (d) perceived
burdensomeness, (e) work-life balance, and (f) substance abuse. These themes identified
stressors that due to occupation was not the cause of the suicide, but there was a pattern
of factors that preceded the suicide in each dentist. This study contributes to suicide
research and should substantiate the need for education centered on the identification of
suicide precursors. This study has the potential to create social change in reducing
stigma associated with suicide, and encouraging individual, societal, and legislative level
changes focused on increasing suicide education programs and suicide reduction
interventions
