Reducing the risk of suicide

Prevention strategies for employers

Louise Aston, Wellbeing Director, Business in the Community

In association with Supported by

A whole person, whole system approach to wellbeing

Business in the Community | www.bitc.org.uk

Focus on prevention

An innovative co production approach

Suicide is a risk for every employer

Business in the Community | www.bitc.org.uk

• Many suicides are preventable

• People spend a third of their lives at their place of employment

• Employers have a duty of care to support the health and wellbeing of employees

• We need to break the stigma that surrounds mental health and suicide

• Foster an open culture where it’s normal to talk about mental health

• It’s okay not to be okay – confidence to reach out for help

• The workplace should be a safe and supportive place to disclose

• Employers need to understand the signs of suicidal thoughts early on as part of a broader mental health offering

• Train and equip managers with the skills needed to respond effectively

Crisis point

Biological factors, psychological factors, life events,

mental illness

ACTION

Suicidal behaviour

THOUGHTS

Unbearable Pain

Key facts

The key facts

• Suicide is the biggest cause of death for men under 45 in the UK

• Men are nearly three times as likely as women to die as a result of suicide.

• But the female suicide rate in England is at its highest since 2005.

Suicide by Occupation: England, 2011 to 2015 Summary of key findings

• Males working in the lowest-skilled occupations had a 44% higher risk of suicide than the male

national average

• Male labourers are 3 times higher risk than the

male national average

ONS March 2017

Suicide by Occupation: England, 2011 to 2015 Summary of key findings

• Females working in healthcare have a 25% higher risk than the female national average

• Male and female carers had a twice the

national average risk for suicide

• Those in high-skilled roles had a reduced risk of 70% for both sexes.

ONS March 2017

Risk factors

• Gender

• Age

• Bereavement

• Sexual orientation and gender identity

Risk factors

• Mental health

• Socio-economic status

• Behavioural

• Psychological and attitudinal

QUIZ

Quiz

Business in the Community | www.bitc.org.uk

How common are suicidal thoughts?

A: One in ten adults

B: One in twenty adults

C: One in five adults

Quiz

Business in the Community | www.bitc.org.uk

You have to be mentally ill to think about suicide

A: True

B: False

Quiz

Business in the Community | www.bitc.org.uk

Talking about suicide is bad as it may give someone the idea to try it

A: True

B: False

What does this mean for employers?

Reducing the risk of suicide for employers

Business in the Community | www.bitc.org.uk

Over two thirds of adults are in

employment

The workplace offers a practical

opportunity to reach people who

need extra support and to reduce the

stigma around mental health

Toolkit content

Business in the Community | www.bitc.org.uk

• Key strategies for suicide prevention

• How to identify employees at risk of suicide

• How to respond to signs

• Suicide postvention

Key elements of a workplace suicide prevention might include:

Business in the Community | www.bitc.org.uk

• A work supportive environment that values its employees

• Education and training on mental heath

• Internal communications and induction programme

• Clear policies, procedures and practical guidance

• Specialised suicide awareness and prevention training

• Helplines with national reach

• A plan for responding to a suicide attempt or death

1. Key strategies for suicide prevention

A safe and healthy workplace can be achieved by

Business in the Community | www.bitc.org.uk

• Promoting good mental health and destigmatising mental health problems

• Reducing stress at work

• Preventing and taking action against bullying and harassment

• Extending support and psychological health services

• Educating and training managers and other key staff

2. How to identify employees at risk of suicide

Certain factors increase the risk that someone will die by suicide:

Business in the Community | www.bitc.org.uk

• Gender

• Age

• Bereavement

• Sexual orientation and gender identity

• Mental illness

• Socio-economic status

• Behavioural

• Psychological and attitudinal

3. How to respond to warning signs

Business in the Community | www.bitc.org.uk

Changes in productivity

• Deterioration in performance at work

• Lethargy in a previously energetic person

• New pattern of unexplained lateness or absences

• Recent inability to concentrate on work

• Recent inability to complete work

Changes in social functioning

• Deterioration in social functioning

• Withdrawal from colleagues

• Isolation

Potential changes to look out for that may be caused by distress or crisis

Changes in personality or behavior

• Extreme mood swings

• Acting anxious or agitated

• Showing rage, uncontrolled anger

• Behaving recklessly

• Increased alcohol or drug use

• Changes in eating and sleeping patterns

• Signs of (self-inflicted) physical harm

In a crisis

Business in the Community | www.bitc.org.uk

1. Make sure the person is not left alone and call 999

2. Stay with the person until professional help arrives

3. Encourage the person to talk but do not promise to keep conversation confidential

4. Ask if there is anyone they would like to call such as Samaritans or their GP

5. Contact your HR Department, OHS or EAP

6. Once the person is under the care of a professional, agree if they would like you stay with them or not

7. Get support for yourself

Resources

for employers

Business in the Community | www.bitc.org.uk

Self-assessment tool

Business in the Community | www.bitc.org.uk

Reducing the Risk of Suicide toolkit for employers https://wellbeing.bitc.org.uk/all-resources/toolkits/suicide-prevention-toolkit

Self-assessment toolhttps://wellbeing.bitc.org.uk/all-resources/toolkits/self-assessment-toolkit

#MentalHealthAtWork

@BITC

Mental health and wellbeing at the Bank of England

Adam Spreadbury, Co-chair of the Bank of England's Mental Health Network

Bank signs up to help

tackle mental health

stigma in the City

The Times, 11 October 2013

Awareness activities

• Active senior management engagement

• Time to Change & This is Me – in the City public pledges

• Staff sharing mental health lived experiences

• Wellbeing seminars

• National mental health awareness events

• External speakers

• The Bank’s staff charities of the year: Samaritans & Mind

The Bank’s mental wellbeing support

• In-house staff counsellors

• GP and occupational health services

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Private Health Insurance

• Mental Health Network

• Wellbeing Champions

As part of our commitment to building an

inclusive workplace, we want all our

colleagues to bring their whole selves to

work. We recognise that given almost

one in three people will have mental

health issues at some point in their lives,

it is important to provide wide-ranging

and consistent support.

Governor Mark Carney’s remark in BITC Mental Health at Work Report 2017

38

Further improvements

• Embedding staff wellbeing

• Training

– Mental health line management training

– Personal resilience training for all staff

• Measurement, including staff surveys

• Learning about, sharing & implementing good practices

Useful links

• Thriving at work report

• Bank of England’s ‘This is Me’ film

• BITC mental health for employers toolkit

• Time to Change

• This is Me – in the City