Breaking the Silence: Suicide prevention in the workplace
It’s important to talk about mental health at work and make sure we look out for colleagues who might be struggling.
Mental health challenges are universal. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 1 in 5 adults in the United States will develop a diagnosable behavioral health condition in a typical year. The stress of the coronavirus pandemic has intensified the occurrence of mental health issues, including suicidal ideation. Lyra Health research conducted early in the pandemic found that 12% of workers surveyed reported thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide remains a leading cause of death in the United States. Despite the growing awareness around the issues of suicide and self-harm, people often shy away from discussing these topics. This hesitancy contributes to the stigma around mental health and can prevent people from seeking treatment for mental health conditions.
We can all play an important role in minimizing the stigma by normalizing the discussion of mental health in the workplace. Learn how to look for warning signs of suicide and how to respond when a co-worker appears to be struggling with their mental health.
Understanding suicide
According to the CDC, someone dies by suicide every 11 minutes. A combination of circumstances—including a mental health condition, a serious physical illness, or other life events, such as prolonged bereavement, social isolation, or legal or financial difficulties — could lead someone to have thoughts of suicide. Because people often avoid discussing the topic of suicide, experiencing thoughts of self-harm or death can feel isolating.
While suicide unfortunately occurs more often than some may think, it’s important for those in distress to know they are not alone so that conversations around this topic can be normalized.
How common is suicide?
In 2020, an estimated 45,979 people died by suicide in the United States. This concerning statistic is even more alarming when combined with the even higher numbers of people who attempted suicide, seriously planned an attempt, or had serious thoughts of suicide.
In 2020:
- 2 million survived a suicide attempt
- 2 million planned an attempt at suicide
- 2 million U.S. adults had thoughts of suicide
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020).
How to look for signs of suicide risk
Co-workers can play a crucial role in suicide prevention. While it can feel awkward or uncomfortable to approach a colleague who may be struggling, checking in with others can provide opportunities for that person to seek the care they need.
Every person shows their feelings differently, and there is no universal warning sign for suicide risk. However, there are some common behaviors that may indicate a person is thinking of suicide or experiencing a significant mental health concern. For example, someone who is having thoughts of suicide may make comments about feeling hopeless or wishing “everything would just end.” Paying attention to warning signs and taking the appropriate actions to respond can help someone get the care and support they need.
Signs that indicate someone may be thinking of suicide or experiencing a significant mental health concern include:
- Persistent sadness or irritability
- Increasingly aggressive or hostile behavior
- Neglecting basic hygiene or one’s appearance
- Withdrawal from people or activities
- Increased use of drugs or alcohol
- Giving away cherished or valuable possessions
- Excessive shame or humiliation
- Statements about feeling trapped or hopeless
- Expressing thoughts of wanting to die
6 steps for reaching out to a co-worker
If you notice warning signs that may indicate a coworker is experiencing emotional distress, consult with human resources or employee relations to learn more about relevant workplace policies and protocol. Consider checking in with the colleague and connecting them to professional support.
If there’s no imminent risk and you’re not sure where to start, these steps can help guide the conversation:
- Be direct: “I notice that you haven’t seemed like yourself lately.”
- Describe what you see: “I notice you haven’t been responding to emails and you seem distracted in meetings.”
- Ask open-ended questions: “How have you been lately?” “Tell me more.” Do more listening rather than talking.
- Validate and reassure them that help is available: “I can understand why this feels so difficult. I care about you and want to make sure you get the support you need.”
- Encourage the coworker to seek support: “Have you thought about talking with HR or employee relations? They can connect you to helpful support in this type of situation.”
- Avoid common pitfalls: Try not to be judgmental, don’t try to diagnose, and avoid giving advice or becoming the employee’s sole source of support. The goal of this conversation is to help connect your colleague to the appropriate resource.
In cases where a person has a plan for how they will harm themselves and intention to use that plan, call local emergency personnel immediately.
Are you concerned about an employee?
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If you or someone you know is struggling, your mental health support program is here to support you. Click on your respective country below to learn more about the resources that are available to you.