World Suicide Prevention Day: Supporting Mental Health in the workplace

World Suicide Prevention Day takes place on 10 September each year. It provides an important opportunity to raise awareness, reduce stigma and encourage more open conversations about suicide prevention and mental health.

For employers, it is also an opportunity to consider how their workplace supports employees who may be struggling and whether people know where to find help.

Creating a workplace where people feel safe to talk, supported when they are struggling and confident knowing where to access appropriate support can make a meaningful difference.

At Hands On At Work, we believe that workplace wellbeing should include both physical and mental health, with organisations creating opportunities for employees to learn, talk and access support.

What is World Suicide Prevention Day?

World Suicide Prevention Day is an annual awareness day focused on suicide prevention and mental health.

It aims to encourage conversations, challenge stigma and remind people that suicide prevention is something we can all play a role in.

For workplaces, the day provides an opportunity to consider how mental health is approached across an organisation and whether employees feel comfortable asking for support.

Importantly, conversations about suicide prevention should not be limited to one day.

Building a supportive workplace culture requires ongoing awareness, education and communication.

Why does suicide prevention matter in the workplace?

Mental health is an important part of employee wellbeing.

People can experience periods of stress, anxiety, depression, grief, financial pressure, relationship difficulties or other personal challenges that affect their mental health.

Work may be one part of the picture, but the workplace can also provide an important source of connection, purpose and support.

A workplace culture where employees feel able to speak openly about mental health can help reduce isolation and make it easier for people to seek appropriate support.

Employers cannot prevent every mental health crisis, but they can take practical steps to create an environment where people know that support is available.

Creating a workplace where people feel able to talk

One of the most important steps an organisation can take is to make conversations about mental health feel normal.

Employees may worry about being judged or believe that discussing their mental health could affect their career or how colleagues perceive them.

Encouraging respectful and open conversations can help challenge these concerns.

Managers and colleagues do not need to have all the answers. Sometimes the most helpful response is to listen, show concern and help someone find appropriate professional support.

How can employers support suicide prevention?

There is no single approach to suicide prevention in the workplace.

However, organisations can take several practical steps to strengthen their approach to mental health and employee wellbeing.

Train Mental Health First Aiders

Mental Health First Aid training can give employees and managers greater awareness and confidence when supporting colleagues experiencing mental health difficulties.

Training can help participants recognise potential signs that someone may be struggling, listen without judgement and understand how to signpost people towards appropriate professional support.

Having trained Mental Health First Aiders within an organisation can also help make mental health support more visible.

Provide suicide awareness training

Suicide awareness training can help employees understand more about suicide, recognise potential warning signs and know how to respond appropriately when they are concerned about someone.

This type of training should always be delivered responsibly and by appropriately trained professionals.

The aim is not to turn employees into counsellors. Instead, it can help people understand when a colleague may need support and how to encourage them to access appropriate help.

Make mental health support easy to find

Employees need to know where they can go when they need help.

Depending on the organisation, this may include:

• Mental Health First Aiders

• Employee Assistance Programmes

• Occupational health

• HR or people teams

• GP services

• Mental health charities and support organisations

Make sure information is easy to find and communicated regularly.

Support is most useful when employees know where to turn before they reach a point of crisis.

Support managers

Managers are often in a position to notice changes in an employee’s behaviour, mood or performance.

Providing managers with appropriate training can help them feel more confident approaching sensitive conversations.

Managers should understand the limits of their role and know when to signpost an employee towards professional support.

Address workplace stress

Supporting mental health also means looking at the workplace itself.

Employers should consider whether workloads, deadlines, working hours, staffing levels, organisational change or workplace relationships could be contributing to excessive pressure.

Addressing the causes of workplace stress should form part of a wider workplace mental health strategy.

The importance of workplace wellbeing

Mental health support should not only be available when someone is struggling.

Regular employee wellbeing initiatives can help create a workplace culture where wellbeing is part of everyday working life.

This could include:

• Mental health awareness webinars

• Stress management workshops

• Resilience training

• Mindfulness sessions

• Wellbeing events

• Workplace massage

• Physical activity initiatives

• Nutrition and healthy lifestyle sessions

Different employees will respond to different types of support, which is why a varied workplace wellbeing programme can be valuable.

These activities do not replace professional mental health care, but they can complement an organisation’s wider approach to employee wellbeing.

How Hands On At Work can support your organisation

At Hands On At Work, we support organisations in developing a more informed and compassionate approach to workplace wellbeing.

Our services can complement existing mental health strategies and give employees practical opportunities to learn more about their wellbeing.

Mental Health First Aid Training

Our Mental Health First Aid training can help employees and managers develop greater awareness and confidence around mental health.

Participants learn how to recognise potential signs that someone may be struggling, have supportive conversations and signpost colleagues towards appropriate support.

Suicide Awareness Training

Suicide awareness training can help organisations create greater understanding around suicide prevention and equip employees with appropriate knowledge about recognising concerns and encouraging people to seek professional help.

Mental Health Awareness Webinars

Our mental health awareness webinars provide accessible information that can help employees understand more about mental wellbeing and the importance of seeking support when needed.

Sessions can be delivered virtually, making them suitable for hybrid and geographically dispersed teams.

Wellbeing Workshops

Our wellbeing workshops cover a range of topics and can help employees develop practical approaches to managing stress, building resilience and supporting their overall wellbeing.

Workplace Massage

Our on site workplace massage service gives employees an opportunity to step away from their working day, relax and recharge.

Workplace massage can form part of a wider wellbeing programme, wellbeing day or employee engagement initiative.

Suicide prevention is an ongoing conversation

World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September provides an important opportunity to raise awareness, but suicide prevention should not be treated as a one day campaign.

Creating a supportive workplace is an ongoing process.

It means making mental health conversations more normal, ensuring employees know where to find support and helping managers feel confident responding when someone may be struggling.

It also means considering the wider workplace environment and addressing factors that may contribute to excessive stress or poor mental wellbeing.

Building a more supportive workplace

Every organisation is different, and there is no one size fits all approach to workplace mental health.

However, small and consistent actions can help create a culture where employees feel valued, listened to and supported.

Whether you are looking to introduce suicide awareness training, strengthen your mental health strategy or develop a wider employee wellbeing programme, Hands On At Work can help.

Looking to support mental health in your workplace?

Get in touch with Tina and Chantall at Hands On At Work to discuss how our workplace wellbeing services can support your organisation: info@handsonatwork.co.uk

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or needs urgent help, contact emergency services or an appropriate healthcare professional. Workplace wellbeing services should complement, not replace, professional mental health support.