Soundbite: World Suicide Prevention Day – Practical Steps for Employers

World Suicide Prevention Day takes place on 10 September each year.

Over 700,000 people die due to suicide every year, with men accounting for the majority of recorded deaths. The scale of the issue underlines why suicide prevention should form part of employers’ wider health, safety and wellbeing arrangements.

Employers can acknowledge the day by issuing a sensitive internal message, signposting confidential support, holding a voluntary awareness session or reminding managers how to respond when concerned about an employee. Communications should avoid graphic details and recognise that the subject may be distressing.

Other practical steps include:

• assessing workplace risks such as excessive workloads, bullying, harassment, lone working, traumatic work and organisational change;
• training managers to recognise possible warning signs, including withdrawal, hopelessness, significant behavioural changes or references to death or being a burden;
• encouraging managers to speak privately and compassionately with employees causing concern – it is appropriate to ask directly about suicidal thoughts;
• providing access to occupational health, employee assistance programmes and external support, and considering reasonable adjustments; and
• maintaining clear crisis-response and postvention procedures (i.e. activities that reduce risk and promote healing after a suicide death).

Where there is an immediate risk, the employee should not be left alone and 999 should be called. Samaritans can be contacted free of charge, 24 hours a day, on 116 123. CALM’s helpline is available daily from 5 pm to midnight on 0800 58 58 58.

Following a suicide or suspected suicide, employers should communicate sensitively, respect confidentiality and the family’s wishes, support affected colleagues and review workplace risks without speculation or blame.

If you require advice on managing suicide-related issues in the workplace, such as supporting an employee in crisis, making reasonable adjustments, updating policies or providing training to managers, please get in touch with a member of the team.