Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697646123515.pdf (Canada)
Suicide Prevention: Uncovering the Signs During these unprecedented times of COVID-19, the importance of mental health and our overall well-being has received more attention than normal.

Throughout the pandemic, people have felt the overwhelming sense of loneliness, isolation and experienced multiple disruptions in their daily routine.

The added economic concern, with realized job loss or threat thereof, has layered new realities and complexity to our individual and collective mental health.
Although not necessarily the primary cause for one to consider ending their life, COVID-19 has become a contributing factor that influences one’s decision to consider suicide.

The impact suicide has within a professional or personal network But first, some facts… of colleagues, co-worker, family, and friends cannot be understated.

With 70% of suicides being completed by working-aged men and women between 30 and 64 years old, the collateral damage of such tragic deaths does indeed reach the workplace.
On average, we’re spending more than a third if not half of our waking hours within some form of a workplace.

Colleagues often become friends rather than just colleagues and will offer you glimpses of their inner lives.

Suicidal thoughts and plans are the last things you would expect to be shared.

However, what if you become aware that a colleague is contemplating suicide?
In this article, we’ll be looking at: • What are the predisposing and contributing factors of suicide • What are potential signs of suicidal risk in a co-worker For every death by suicide, there are 20 to 25 attempts, 5 self-inflicting injury hospitalizations and 7 to 10 people deeply affected by grief.

On average, suicides claim the lives of 12 Canadians per day.

In 2015, 3,269 Canadian men and 1,136 women died by suicide.1 However, women make up to 3 to 4 times more suicide attempts than men.
The actual suicide rate for women has risen by as much as 50% from 2000 to 2016 in the U.S.2 and a similar trend has also been observed in Canada.

Overall, the prevalence of suicide is growing.

According to Fardous Hosseiny, the national director of research and public policy at the Canadian Mental Health Association, the percentage change over 2011 and 2015 shows an increase of 12% in males and 15% for women.
The largest population of suicides in Canada are from working-aged men • How to provide support while respecting confidentiality and and women between the ages of 30 to 64 with a peak occurring safety issues • How to promote self-care and seek outside support if needed between 45 and 593.

The suicide rate among the U.S. working-age population increased by 34% between 2000 and 2016.4 Suicide Prevention: Uncovering the Signs Workplace suicides have also increased.
Approximately 1,719 male colleagues who weren’t close to the employee who took their own and female workers ended their lives on the job in the U.S. between life.

Often, death by suicide leads to rumors and speculation about 2003 and 2007.5 In 2016, the American Bureau of Labor Statistics why it took place.

These rumours may include work-related factors reported a steady increase in workplace suicides from 2007 to 2013. and could potentially affect the morale of employees.
In 2018, the Mental Health Commission of Canada published a study that found Canadian employees reported workplace stress as Predisposing and contributing factors the primary cause of their mental-health concerns6.
Steve Bittle, an Causes for suicide are a complex cocktail of factors, including associate criminology professor at the University of Ottawa states relationship breakdowns, financial difficulties, chronic physical that between 10 and 17 per cent of annual suicides in Canada could illness, major losses, major social disruptions or a lack of social be classified as work-related, representing a range of 400 to 800 support.

Some factors can be work and career related.
It has been fatalities each year.7 In November 2018, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) reported that the top 3 major occupational groups by suicide rate among males in 2015 were: • Construction and Extraction • Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media • Installation, Maintenance, and Repair For women: • Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media • Protective Service • Health Care Support For both genders, the lowest suicide rates in 2015 were observed in Education, Training and Library occupations.
In general, occupations with higher suicide rates involve one or many of the following factors: easy access to lethal means, found that for every 1% increase in unemployment, there is a 0.79% increase in the suicide rate.8 During the Great Depression, the suicide rate in America increased by 21%.

A common predisposition is an underlying mental health disorder, as 60% of completed suicides involve people dealing with a diagnosed depression.
Moreover, 90% of people who take their own lives suffer from a mental health disorder.9 When professionals estimate the risk of suicide among employees, they will take into consideration some of the following predisposing factors: • Access to lethal weapons • Past suicide attempts • Capacity to hope for positive change • Self-help capacity, including diet, quality of sleep, medication and professional follow up • Chronic mental health suffering and/or physical pain exposure to chemicals, high workplace stress and risk of trauma, job • Self-control and impulsivity insecurity, low wages, inconsistent work schedule and isolation in • Substance usage and/or abuse the workplace.
• Support network, which serves as a protective factor.

Rising workplace suicide rates shouldn’t come as a surprise in an era crippled with progressively increasing levels of pressure and Uncovering the signs stress among employees.

Now the added complexity of COVID-19 has created new factors that influence the rising statistics.
According to the HR Digest, the obsessive focus “on targets and deadlines, race for profits and excessive individualization as well as informal competition amongst colleagues are some of the causes of suicidal tendencies.

They lead to psychological problems in the Depending on how close you are to a co-worker, you may or may not know of the above predisposing factors but some signs can give you hints as to the potential risk of suicidal thoughts or plans.
None of these, on their own, can reveal suicidal risk, but a combination of some of the following signs can reveal a significant level of distress within your co-worker.
About 75% of those who die by suicide do workplace which have a negative impact on the way employees exhibit some suicide warning signs.10 work.” Work-related signs or situations to look for are isolation, When a suicide does occur, work and/or business related colleagues performance and stress-related anxiety, conflicts with management can be emotionally impacted with feelings ranging from anger, grief or colleagues, job insecurity, intense expressions of job and guilt.
These feelings can last far beyond the initial shock and reaction time span.

Feelings and reactions may also surface within dissatisfaction, deep and long-lasting fatigue, workload issues, and Suicide Prevention: Uncovering the Signs presenteeism or absenteeism.

It’s important to recognize that some conclusions.


However when you genuinely believe there is a risk of of the previous symptoms can also be traced back to personal suicidal thoughts or plans: problems affecting the well-being and mental health of a colleague.

Mental health disorders influence feelings, thoughts, behaviour and • Don’t hesitate to ask your colleague directly if they are having difficulties.

If the answer is yes, ask if they have thoughts or plans abilities.
Employees dealing with a disorder may show losses in confidence, concentration and patience.

It might impair their of suicide.

decision making, judgement and people skills.

Their personality can be altered and subject to mood swings and extreme shifts in behaviours and attitudes.

• If they do have thoughts or plans of suicide, first acknowledge that this is serious.

Don’t act right away.

Keep the person talking and keep listening.

This shows empathy and understanding.


It creates the necessary bond you need to build before you even mention More typically linked to suicide are comments on being a burden to outside help.

others who they say would be better off if they weren’t there; or employees becoming suddenly very happy after a depression or despite everything crumbling down around them.
More obvious warning signs require more immediate action, such as someone expressing the desire to die or to end their life and having a plan to do so.11 • Foster hope by exploring potential options for help.

Seek to find supportive people like professionals or important persons in their lives that are well suited to identify better options.

Remember, the suicidal person is seeking a way out of a painful situation.
They are often in the dark and have lost hope, shedding light on a different road map can help them to recognize and consider other It’s estimated that up to 25% of people do not exhibit signs before ending their lives.

It’s important not to blame yourself or others if a pathways.

colleague completes suicide without any visual or behavioural cues.

However, if you recognize any of the signs mentioned earlier, don’t hesitate to engage in a conversation with your co-worker.
If you • Check on prior attempts.

You can ask your colleague if they have tried to hurt themselves in the past.

If they have, the risk of suicide increases making it more urgent to get professional help.

happen to be right, starting that conversation might just save your • After your conversation, don’t let this rest upon your shoulders.

You colleague’s life.

How to provide support can express your concern about needing to get help to keep your colleague safe.
Refer them to resources in your workplace (HR, EFAP), or to a mental health professional or a community resource, If you approach a colleague you believe might be suicidal, tell them like a crisis centre.

you’ve noticed changes in their behaviour.

Be respectful and share your concerns.

Ask if the person is okay.

It’s normal to feel uneasy and it can indeed be scary.

But asking someone about suicide doesn’t put the idea in their head.
Instead, according to the Ontario Suicide Prevention Network (OASP): The person has to be put in contact with the chosen resource as soon as possible.

It is important that a person entertaining thoughts of suicide be linked to a well-trained professional that can perform a comprehensive suicide assessment and intervention within the day.12 In the meantime, make sure your colleague is not left alone.
• It breaks isolation which can distort their fears, hopelessness and Either stay with your colleague or ask if they have a close friend or embarrassment.

• It breaks the silence and sends a powerful message that they are family member that can be with them.

Be sure to let your colleague know, they need to tell someone and seek help if risk of harm exists.

not alone, that you care and that it’s okay to talk about their Remember that security issues always outweigh confidentiality thoughts and feelings.
• Opening up a conversation about suicide is the first step towards considerations if a person is deemed in danger of inflicting imminent harm to themselves in a way that can threaten their life or the life of hope and almost always helps reduce the risk.

others.

• It lets people the opportunity to let their fear out and to consider Self-care and talk about other options.

Suicide is often less about wanting to die, and more of a feeling or belief that they have run out of options.
Providing support to a suicidal colleague is not easy.

It can affect you emotionally, put you in a state of constant worry and make you feel responsible for one’s well-being.

Crisis and suicide prevention Be cognizant of the individual’s right to privacy and never jump to centres most often offer support services for people who are Suicide Prevention: Uncovering the Signs themselves a support to a suicidal person.

Your EFAP and HR References: resources might also offer such services.
Your personal network of family and friends is also an important resource but go to a professional support system first.

It will make you better informed and should lift much of the weight of responsibility off your shoulders.

If you would like more information on suicide alert programs or training to develop skills in suicide intervention, many local and provincial suicide prevention community resources offer training and even workplace gatekeeper programs.
A positive aspect of COVID-19, one’s mental health has become more accessible.

Free to all Canadians, Homewood Health is a proud partner in Wellness Together Canada.

This online portal offering free resources, tools and mental health support services in both English and French.

It can be accessed at wellnesstogether.ca or by phone by calling 1-866-585-0445.

No one is immune from suicidal thoughts and urges.

If such thoughts should invade your mind, don’t isolate yourself, talk to 1.
Statistics Canada, 2015, as reported by Global News.

Source : https:// globalnews.ca/news/4274136/suicide-rates-women-men-canada/ 2.

Dr. Hedegaard, H., Suicide Rates in the United States Continue to Increase.

National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

2018.

Source: https://www.

cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db309.htm 3.

Statistics Canada, 2015.

Source : http://dustinkmacdonald.com/canadian- suicide-statistics-2016/ 4.

Suicide Increasing Among American Workers.


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) press release.

2018.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/ media/releases/2018/p1115-Suicide-american-workers.html 5.

American Bureau of Labor Statistics (ABLS).

Source : https://www.

thehrdigest.com/workplace-suicides-rise/ 6.

Canadian employees report workplace stress as primary cause of mental health concerns.

Mental Health Commission of Canada and Morneau Shepell.

2018.
2018.

Source: https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/ news-article/13522/canadian-employees-report-workplace-stress-primary- cause-mental-health-concerns 7.

Job-related deaths in Canada dramatically under-reported, study suggests.

CBC News, January 29, 2019.

Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ workplace-fatalities-deaths-under-reported-study-1.4973495 someone you trust and ask for professional help.

You don’t have to 8.

Stuckler,D.

et al.


The public health effect of economic crises and alternative suffer in silence.

policy responses in Europe: an empirical analysis.

The Lancet.

2009.

Source: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140- 6736(09)61124-7/fulltext 9.

Public Health Agency of Canada, 2016.

Source: https://www.canada.ca/ en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/suicide-canada- infographic.html 10.
Source : http://www.suicide.org/suicide-warning-signs.html 11.

American Association of Suicidology, 2017.

Source: https://www.

suicidology.org/resources/warning-signs 12.

LivingWorks Canada, 2007.

Source : http://www.ospn.ca/index.php/ suicide-prevention/suicide-prevention-starts-with-a-question Need more information or assistance?

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