According to recent federal data analysis, suicide in the United States has surged to the highest levels in nearly 30 years with increases in every age group except older adults. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics reported in 2016 that U.S. suicides overall totaled nearly 45,000 and was a 35% increase compared with 10 years earlier. While the overall suicide rate has climbed, so has the number of employees that choose to end their lives in the workplace.
In November 2017, an armed employee at a Bank of America call center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, barricaded himself inside and then died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound as police officers attempted to negotiate with him by phone. At Apple’s Cupertino headquarters in April 2016, an employee committed suicide in one of the organization’s conference rooms. Right here in Michigan, a disgruntled Ford employee working at the Woodhaven Stamping Plant shot and killed himself inside the plant in October 2017.
According to the most recent data available through the Bureau of Labor Statistics, suicides in the workplace totaled 291 in 2016 and is the highest number since the government started tracking this data 25 years ago. While the chances of a workplace suicide happening is statistically small, when it does occur, the impact to the organization is devastating.
Reasons for an employee ending their life on the job can include sparing loved ones from discovering them or in some instances, is a message to the employer. In 2016 an Amazon employee jumped from a building on the organization’s Seattle campus. In an email he sent to the CEO beforehand, he criticized the organization and his colleagues and claimed he had been put on a performance improvement plan. Luckily in that instance the employee survived.
Increasing pressure and stress levels in the workplace may lead to psychological problems with employees. Employers may wish to consider taking steps to recognize signs and possible risks of suicide within the workplace. These include:
Be aware of factors that increase suicide risk
· Prior suicide attempts
· Suicide by someone close
· Problematic substance use
· Mental illnesses such as depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorder, etc.
· Access to lethal drugs, weapons, or other means
· Stigma that discourages employees from asking for help
· Feelings of isolation due to actual or perceived discrimination related to race, sexual orientation, disability, gender, etc.
Provide Training
· Suicide awareness training - provide training to appropriate individuals within the organization. Managers should become familiar with common warning signs of suicide which can include major change in personality, sharp decline in personal hygiene, talk of killing themselves or feeling hopeless, depression, anxiety, withdrawing from activities, and isolating from family, friends and co-workers.
· Interpersonal and competency training – help employees develop stress management and coping skills in order to more effectively deal with problems.
· Raise awareness of organizational and community supports – such as the company EAP, help through Human Resources, crisis support lines, and mental health agencies.
· Resolve workplace issues – focus on a practice of resolving workplace issues quickly and effectively.
Educate and Support Employees
· Ensure your Employee and Family Assistance Program (EAP) provides appropriate support and counseling services to those who may have thoughts of suicide.
· Provide education to help recognize mental health problems, including warning signs of suicide.
· Establish programs that reward mental wellness.
· Develop an inclusive workplace environment where diversity is welcomed, supported, and protected for all employees.
· Avoid marginalizing people most in need of support such as those who are in crisis, undergoing difficult life changes, or experiencing mental health issues.
· Create a caring work environment in which co-workers support each other.
· Promote listening and interpersonal skills to help employees improve their relationships.
· Eliminate stigma related to mental health issues so that all employees feel safe asking for help.
In order to assist employers, The Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) has information sheets available online: The Role of Managers in Preventing Suicide in the Workplace and The Role of Co-Workers in Preventing Suicide in the Workplace. Below are additional resources. There is no foolproof way of telling whether someone may be thinking of taking his or her life, but by taking proactive steps to raise awareness and educate the workforce, employers can help their employees find professional assistance.
Sources: WSJ 1/17/2018; The HR Digest 5/8/2017