Mortality among males employed in the health sector was examined using data surrounding the 1971 & 1981 censuses to assess the differences between social classes in the health services & to study changes over a decade. Results showed that the proportion of suicides was high in most health occupational groups in the 1980s. Over the decade there was a significant decline in suicides among doctors with dentists & hosptial manual workers showing an increase. (24 refs.)