Unless your program controls equipment in an hospital ;-)

>And stress, I'm sure. They literally do make life and death decisions. If my program has a bug in it, nobody dies from it.
>
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>>You are right (at least according to one study I read). White, male doctors are at the top of the list for some reason. Maybe due to years of no sleep?
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>>>I can't get to your links here at work (our firewall should be called "No Internet For You" <g>) but aren't doctors also high on the list? At least that's what I have heard.
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>>>>I'm sure you are right John, but I also think that the stress in certain jobs - and military service and protecting our citizens (police officers) top that list - are HUGE contributing factors. The stress of the job - and the fact of the nature of the job and all that is viewed and experienced especially witnessing the lowest our society can sink to - contribute more to suicide than the average person's experiences. Not everyone, but many, become hardened to the most despicable actions having witnessed them so often. For others it becomes almost overwhelming. I think dismissing outright the effect being in law enforcement can have on a person overtime especially the additional stress it puts on a family is alittle unrealistic.
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>>>>Still, studies do support your position:
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>>>>http://www.apa.org/monitor/jan01/suicide.html
>>>>http://www.bls.gov/opub/cwc/sh20040126ar01p1.htm
>>>>
>>>>Yet, as you can see, one study shows that police officers have the highest 'relative risk' of committing suicide.
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>>>>>>There is a difference between a sheriff and a programmer - sheriffs deal with criminals - programmers deal with code. Sheriffs have been corrupted by criminals - with the exception of a few NOT-Heads = programmers are rarely corrupted by criminals.
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>>>>>>There is a big difference John - Programmers never steal coke from the evidence room - sheriff's have. Your statement is an over simplification - and apples and oranges comparison.
>>>>>
>>>>>Actually, occupation isn't the reason this Sheriff committed suicide, and I doubt it had anything to do with Drew (if he actually committed suicide). The similarity was the fact that both were humans, both had apparently had bouts of depression, and both are now gone. Your investigative skills are lacking if you think occupation is causative of suicide. Sure more cops committ suicide than programmers, but that doesn't mean occupation is the cause. Lifestyle would probably be more predictive than occupation.