Creating a safer workplace: Promoting suicide awareness and support
Suicide is a global crisis and much more common than people think.
A staggering 1 in 5 experience suicidal thoughts and 1 in 15 people attempt suicide in their lifetime, with each death having a profound impact on families and communities.
But suicide is preventable, and by raising awareness, starting conversations, and supporting those in need, we can make a real difference.
On September 10th, World Suicide Prevention Day highlights this crucial message, and we are committed to spreading it.
Suicide and its prevalence in the workplace
Suicide is a leading cause of death globally and is particularly prevalent in the workplace.
Around 15% of people experience mental health problems in the workplace, 9% of employees experience thoughts of suicide or self-harm, and as many as 10% of all suicides each year are work-related.
Moreover, certain industries face much higher suicide rates—female nurses are 24% more likely to die by suicide than the national average for women, and men in construction have a suicide risk three times higher than the male average.
Given the profound impact of mental health issues and the alarming statistics surrounding workplace suicides, it is essential for employers to proactively address and mitigate these risks.
Suicide prevention at work
Discussing sensitive topics like suicide can be challenging, and it’s not uncommon for managers to feel uncertain about how to support their teams effectively. However, it is vital for employers to actively engage in supporting their employees’ mental health and to play a proactive role in preventing such tragic events.
“Work that is interesting and fulfilling is good for mental health, but a negative working environment or work-related stressors can lead to physical and mental health problems. It is important for employers and others in positions of responsibility in the workplace to put in place measures to promote the good mental health of their employees, and to have a plan for supporting employees and colleagues with mental health conditions or who may be at risk of suicide.”
-The World Health Organisation
What you can do to help
- Encourage open discussions about mental and physical health, making it easy for staff to approach management or HR with concerns.
- Provide mental health training to equip managers to recognise and address mental health issues within their teams.
- Supply mental health resources to support and empower employees.
- Develop a suicide prevention policy to ensure clear protocols are in place for handling concerns about a colleague’s wellbeing.
- Identify and reduce work-related stressors which can negatively impact mental health.
- Look out for signs of poor mental health, such as mood changes, sleep issues, low energy, concentration problems, poor performance, social withdrawal, reckless behaviour, or increased substance use.
If you notice these signs, approach the person with empathy or inform a supervisor, family member, or friend, as well as encourage them to seek help from a GP or counselling services.
Medigold Health offers a wide range of mental health support services, tools and training courses for managers, employees and workplace ambassadors.
Developed by experts in mental health and wellbeing, these services can help you build a more mentally healthy workforce and reduce the risk of suicide within your workplace.
To learn more about these services and how they can support your organisation, click here.
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