Suicide prevention in the workplace
Summary
The workplace is a key setting for the early detection of emotional distress and suicide prevention. We spend many hours at work, interacting with teams and leaders who may observe significant changes, and working conditions can act as both risk and protective factors. Therefore, organizations have a fundamental role to play in preventing suicidal behavior.
The Practical Guide for the Prevention and Management of Suicidal Behavior in Organizations , prepared by the ITURRI Foundation, together with entities such as Affor Health, the Catalan Association for the Prevention of Suicide (ACPS), the Red Cross and the Telephone of Hope, was created precisely with this objective: to provide organizations with useful tools to prevent and manage suicidal behavior in the workplace, addressing both risk factors and intervention and postvention strategies.
Why does work influence suicidal behavior?
The Practical Guide for the prevention and management of suicidal behavior in organizations highlights some of the risk and protective factors in the workplace:
Risk factors:
- Chronic stress and excessive workloads.
- Social isolation and lack of support within the team.
- Toxic environments: harassment, discrimination, conflicts or lack of recognition.
- Job insecurity or fear of losing one's job.
- Professions with high exposure to trauma or access to lethal means (healthcare workers, security forces).
Protective factors:
- Good work environment and support from superiors.
- Social integration and team cohesion.
- Communication and problem-solving skills.
Relationship between suicide and employment
What organizations can do: primary prevention
Prevention begins long before any warning signs are detected. The guide proposes:
Create clear mental health policies
- Protocols against harassment and extreme stress.
- Free access or facilitation of resources.
- Promoting work-life balance.
Actively promote well-being
- Workshops on stress management, resilience, or empathetic communication.
- Awareness campaigns to reduce stigma.
- Spaces for rest and relaxation.
- Early detection during health exams.
Warning signs in the workplace
On the other hand, as the guide explains, colleagues and supervisors are usually the first to notice changes and detect the first warning signs. Some of these are:
- Sudden isolation or reduced participation.
- Decreased performance or unusual errors.
- Expressions of hopelessness.
- Extreme fatigue, changes in sleep patterns, or a neglected appearance.
- Increased consumption of alcohol or other substances.
How to act: secondary prevention and intervention
When a warning sign appears, it is crucial to intervene quickly and with empathy. The guide provides some useful guidelines for organizations, depending on the existing risk:
If there is a mild or moderate risk
- Speak privately and listen without judgment.
- Ask directly if the person has thought about harming themselves.
- Facilitate referral to mental health professionals.
- Inform HR or Occupational Health for follow-up.
If there is imminent risk
- Do not leave the person alone.
- Remove hazardous objects if it is safe to do so.
- Activate emergencies (112) or the 024 line.
- Contact the internal intervention team (HR, OSH, trained leaders).
Companies must have clear protocols, teams trained in psychological first aid, and up-to-date safety plans.
Work, a key space for promoting mental health
What to do when a suicide occurs in the organization: postvention
The guide also includes recommendations for what to do after a death by suicide:
- Communicate sensitively and without going into too much detail.
- Respect the family's privacy.
- To offer spaces for mourning and emotional support to the team.
- Prevent rumors and ensure clear official information.
- Be alert to intense reactions or new risks in the team.
The work environment can be a risk factor or a lifeline. Companies that develop mental health policies, train their teams, and act on warning signs contribute not only to the well-being of their employees but also to a more humane and safe culture.
