Preventing suicide: a resource at work

Overview

Suicide is a complex phenomenon and its prevention requires the involvement of a wide range of people and groups. One of them are employers, union officials, providers of employee assistance programmes, personnel directors, and workers who share the common goal of creating a mentally healthy workforce. Suicide prevention at work is best addressed through a combination of organizational change aimed at preventing and reducing job stress, the destigmatization of mental health problems and help seeking, the recognition and early detection of mental health and emotional difficulties, and appropriate intervention and management through employee health and assistance programmes. Companies of all sizes can have health and safety policies and programmes that promote a mentally healthy workforce and prevent suicidal behaviours.