Managers and supervisors are well positioned to notice if employees are struggling and to take the first steps to assist them in getting help. You spend a lot of time at work and have day-to-day contact with your employees. Over time, you get to know someone, can observe changes in their behavior, and may see them at critical points in their life.
You can also play an active role in suicide prevention by creating a work environment that fosters communication, a sense of belonging and respect. Feeling connected to a community promotes emotional wellbeing and can decrease the risk of suicide. Stigma about mental illness can keep people from sharing their situation and seeking help, especially in their workplaces. Reassure your employees that mental health problems are real and treatable.
Identifying who may be at risk
Be alert to problems that increase suicide risk. There are a large number of risk factors for suicide. Some of the most significant ones are:
Prior suicide attempt(s)
Alcohol and drug abuse
Mood and anxiety disorders, e.g., depression or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Access to lethal means
Look for signs of immediate risk for suicide. Some behaviors may mean a person is at immediate risk for suicide. These three should prompt you to take action right away:
Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself
Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as searching online or obtaining a gun
Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
Suicide risk is usually greater among people with more than one risk factor. For individuals who are already at risk, a “triggering” event causing shame or despair may make them more likely to attempt suicide. These events may include relationship problems or breakups, problems at work, financial hardships, legal difficulties and worsening health. Even though most people with risk factors will not attempt suicide, they should be evaluated by a professional.
Respond to those who may be at risk for suicide. Be prepared by knowing who to contact in your workplace if an employee is in distress or suicidal. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and human resources department are the appropriate first points of contact.
Take action if you encounter someone who is at immediate risk
If an employee is:
Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself
Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as searching online or obtaining a gun
Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
Take the following steps right away:
If the danger of self-harm seems imminent, call 911.
Stay with the person (or make sure the person is in a private, secure place with another caring person) until you can get further help.
Contact the EAP or human resources department and they will help you decide what to do. Provide any background information that may be helpful.
Maintain contact with the employee and the EAP or human resources department to provide appropriate support and follow-up.
Reach out to someone who may be at risk
The steps above are an appropriate response to an employee showing immediate warning signs of suicide. To help other employees who may be at risk for suicide, you can take the steps below, depending on what feels most comfortable to you:
Talk with your EAP or human resources department
Reach out to the person:
Ask how they are doing
Listen without judging
Mention changes you have noticed in the person’s behavior and say you are concerned about their emotional wellbeing
Suggest that they talk with someone in the EAP, the human resources department or another mental health professional
Provide ongoing support to the person
Additional resources
If warning signs are observed, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
For more information regarding the causes of suicide and prevention strategies, visit the American Association of Suicidology.
The CDC has released a technical package, “Preventing Suicide: A Technical Package of Policy, Programs, and Practices” that is a collection of strategies that represents the best available evidence to prevent or reduce public health problems such as suicide.
Source: The Suicide Prevention Resource Center
