Analyzing dental suicidality rate correlations : a cross profession survey

This research aimed to investigate the truth behind claims of high suicide rates among dental practitioners by assessing suicidality ratings as well as various prediction factors in students pursuing a career in the dental profession. To do so, undergraduate students at Ball State University were issued an email survey containing a 19-item modified version of the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation. The suicidality scores of the undergraduate pre-dental students were compared to the control group, which contains all undergraduate students from other areas of study. Although support was not found for pre-dental students having a higher suicidality rating than the general undergraduate population, it was suggested that freshman and sophomore undergraduates have significantly higher suicidality rates than junior, senior, and senior + undergraduates.