The Need for Suicide Prevention in the Workplace
The changing nature of the workplace setting, along with the new realities of the workplace environment, can create additional uncertainty, stress, and fear, which all increase the risk for employees to experience challenges with their mental health – a significant risk factor for suicidal ideation and suicide.
Because people often spend a large part of their day at work, they often get to know other employees at their workplace. Thus, they may be in a good position to notice behaviour changes in their colleagues that could suggest risk for suicide or other mental health problems.
Suicide Prevention Toolkits for the Workplace
Everyone has a role to play in suicide prevention – businesses, organizations, and workplaces are no exception. The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) and the Canadian Mental Health Association – Windsor-Essex County Branch (CMHA-WECB) have developed the Suicide Prevention Toolkit: Resources for Workplaces and the Suicide Prevention Toolkit: Resources to Engage Workplaces to facilitate the creation of a culture of mental health promotion and suicide prevention for their employees. These toolkits may also be applied more broadly and adopted by organizations, schools (e.g., secondary, post-secondary), and across other institutions.
Suicide awareness is important beyond the month of September. Suicide is a serious public health problem that affects individuals, families, and communities in lasting ways.
Additional Resources
To learn more about suicide prevention awareness, please refer to the following resources:
- Canadian Mental Health Association – Windsor-Essex County Branch – Suicide Prevention Resources
- Centre for Suicide Prevention – All Resources
- Resource Centre for Suicide Prevention
- Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention
- 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline
References
Mustard, C., Bielecky, A., Etches, J., Wilkins, R., Tjepkema, M., Amick, B.C., Smith, P.M., Gnam, W.H., & Aronson, K.J. (2010). Suicide mortality by occupation in Canada, 1991-2001. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 56(6), 369-376. Retrieved from: https:// doi.org/10.1177%2F070674371005500606
Canadian Mental Health Association – Windsor-Essex County Branch. (2020). Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Retrieved from windsoressex.cmha.ca/suicide-awareness
McIntyre, R.S., & Lee, Y. (2020). Projected increases in suicide in Canada as a consequence of COVID-19. Psychiatry Research, 290, 113104. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165178120310386