Shannon Rivers’ Post

It’s Suicide Prevention Month – Are we really tackling the core issue? Yes, businesses have come a long way when it comes to mental health and wellbeing – there’s no denying that. From wellness programmes to employee support services, EAP Programs etc. Its all amazing work. But let’s be honest, suicide prevention and suicide first aid training are still glaring omissions in the corporate world. In the UK, male suicide rates are devastatingly high – 25.5 deaths per 100,000 men aged 45-49. In Ireland, the situation is no better. Men account for 80% of all suicides, with a rate of 14.9 per 100,000, compared to just 3.6 for women. Despite this, only 3% of companies are offering proper suicide prevention workshops. Why the hesitation? Many believe it’s too sensitive a subject, but staying silent doesn’t save lives. The question we need to ask ourselves is: Are we doing enough? Have we trained our leaders in Suicide First Aid? Are we truly prepared to support those in crisis, or are we still shying away from this critical issue? Myth: Talking about suicide increases risk. Fact: Research shows that having open, honest conversations about suicide actually reduces risk and encourages people to seek help. This Suicide Prevention Month, let’s go beyond raising awareness. Let’s take meaningful steps to protect lives in our workplaces. #SuicidePreventionMonth #MentalHealthAtWork #SuicideFirstAid #CorporateResponsibility

This #WorldSuicidePreventionDay (10th September) provides an opportunity for workplaces and sites across the country to get involved, look out for your mates and start a conversation which could in turn save a life. In 2024, the theme is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”. The aim is to ‘shift from a culture of silence and stigma to one of openness, understanding, and support’. Why is World Suicide Prevention Day important? The shocking statistics regarding the suicide in our key sectors tell us why World Suicide Prevention Day is so important: - Four in five suicides are by men, with suicide the biggest cause of death for men under 35. - In 2022, there were 6,588 suicides registered in the UK. - Of the 6,319 suicides registered in the UK in 2021, 507 were in #construction alone. - #Drivers of work lift trucks had a suicide rate 85% higher than the national average, van drivers were noted to have a rate 25% higher, and drivers of large goods vehicles 20% higher than the national average. As the Office of National Statistic report stated: attempting to explain suicide is complex as it is likely that a number of factors act together to increase risk, including some job-related features. We believe employers can play a critical role in helping to prevent suicides. There is a moral case, but also a growing awareness of a strong business case, which demonstrates that prevention needs to be at the heart of changes to company culture which employers wish to make. Find out how to #StartTheConversation by downloading Mates in Mind’s free World Suicide Prevention Day 2024 pack and poster at https://lnkd.in/edkYTzQE Please view MPA’s free mental health resources and supporting information on Safequarry.com, including our guides to ‘Recognising and Managing Mental Health and Wellbeing Issues - Clear, Simple, Smart’ for Employees and Managers: https://lnkd.in/dyhTNt5. For more information and resources, please visit the following websites: Mates in Mind: https://lnkd.in/gSmtHmn The Lighthouse Charity: https://lnkd.in/gdSn_mi International Association for Suicide Prevention: https://lnkd.in/gU7tE4-W #WSPD #BeAMateBeTheChange #SuicidePrevention #KeepYourMatesInMind #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness

📣 Workplace announcement no12 Its September and we are starting off the last 3rd of the year. September is Suicide Awareness Month so I thought I’d start by spotlighting Suicide Awareness and Suicide First Aid as my first post back (I’ve taken a Linkdin break alongside my holidays to truly stop working ). Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death in the UK, with devastating effects on families, friends, and communities. - In the UK, over 6,500 people die by suicide each year. - Menare three times more likely to die by suicide than women, particularly those aged 45-49—the highest-risk group. Sadly this is shifting and more women are taking their lives. - Young people are increasingly vulnerable. In fact, suicide is the leading cause of death for those aged 20-34. - Eeconomic stress, social isolation, and mental health challenges, and many other factors contribute to this crisis, especially during and after the pandemic. So how can you help? Talk About It: Reducing the stigma around thoughts of suicide starts with open conversations. Let's make it easier for people to ask for help without fear of judgment. Learn the Signs: Recognize some of the warning signs—withdrawal, changes in behavior, or expressing feelings of hopelessness—and reach out to offer support. It’s really as simple as knowing how to have a conversation and understanding how to respond to dismantle a suicide plan. Advocate for Change: Support policies and initiatives that improve access to mental health services and provide adequate support for those in need. How can we, in the workplace support people. Wellbeing policies are great but do you have a suicide prevention plan, policy or SOP? Do you have staff trained that know how to manage conversations around Suicide ? Do you have Suicide First Aiders/allies that can support your managers with a proper plan/ communication etc and involve the right key people ? Do you have stafff that can help dismantle a suicide plan, follow up with the staff member and help them create a safety plan? If not it’s time to put these in place. Suicide is one of the most preventable deaths when it comes to public health. More than 6500 take their lives in the UK and 730000 worldwide. And numbers are increasing and trends are changing worldwide. Drop me a line if you’d like to talk more about this, train staff, develop a policy /strategy. #SuicideAwarenessMonth #MentalHealthMatters #SupportAndSaveLives #suicideprevention ——————————————— I’m Elizabeth a disabled #livedexperience #mentalhealth #trainer policy analyst and writer who wants community and independent living to work for everyone. I talk about #mentalhealth, #wellbeing in the #community and #workplace. ————————————- Pic has the letters SFA in white on a blue background for Suicide First Aid.

This is an excellent article that I encourage my friends in the workplace and suicide prevention space to read. I agree with the conclusions of the article that we need to have more emphasis on work-directed prevention and control. Improving working conditions, especially psychosocial, long working hours, and precarious employment must be placed as a priority because they are established risk factors for so many other adverse outcomes. The Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition has suggestions for work-directed prevention and control in its Suicide Prevention In The Workforce Employer Toolkit. https://lnkd.in/g69xPhvT I'd love to hear of any other work-directed prevention and control measures you have seen be fruitful. Executive leadership, managers, and HR leaders have the unique position to positively impact the mental and emotional wellbeing of those in our workplaces.

This article points towards the need for ALL workplaces to encourage help seeking behaviour, provide safe working conditions and one positive strategy is having employees with knowledge and skills that can look out for each other and save lives! I truly believe ASIST, mental health first aid and other targeted initiatives can save lives! It’s important we action a suicide safer community 🫶

**Empowering Communities to Prevent Suicide** Our communities can be powerful forces in preventing suicide, but it requires awareness, support, and strategic action. **Public Awareness Campaigns:** Knowledge is power. Educating communities about mental health, reducing stigma, and promoting resources like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can make a significant difference. **Support Systems Enhancement:** From peer support groups to workplace initiatives, and school programs to healthcare provider training, robust support systems are essential. **Legislation and Policy:** Effective policies like ensuring insurance coverage for mental health services, restricting access to common suicide means, and funding crisis intervention services are critical steps. Together, we can create a safer environment where everyone has the chance to thrive. Learn more about how we can make a difference in my latest blog/youtube video [Include your link here]. Let's stand united in the fight against suicide. Together, we can save lives. #MentalHealthAwareness #SuicidePrevention #CommunitySupport #WellnessStrategies Full Blog Post here 👇 https://lnkd.in/dqBXQgST

https://lnkd.in/e9GfG9gc Suicide is one of those taboo topics that we find hard to talk about. Partly because of that collective silence, it continues to be a serious issue with 6,000+ people each year deciding to die this way in the UK alone. My mother, Jude, died by suicide when she was 42 and I was 11. Now, carefully and importantly, this is not to lay any of the blame on her colleagues, or suggest that anybody could have done anything differently - but, I'm pretty sure they didn't have a Tuesday lunchtime 'Suicide; identifying the risk factors' conversation at work that week. Please don't leave a comment saying you're 'sorry for my loss' - that would be weird and unnecessary, better would be a comment or share in response to this great article. Let's try our bets to bring this taboo, but relevant topic, into the light and into discussion; doing so may help save a life. +++ Thank you to Mike McCarthy and HRZone for tackling this topic in this recent excellent article. #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #resilience #suicide #suicideprevention

The #MediaStrong Conference last week at City, University of London  Office for National Statistics (ONS) analysis shows that suicides are less common for females than males, and that there are differences in the types of occupation where suicide is more common. For women, occupations with a high risk of suicide include nurses (23% above the national average), primary school teachers (42% above average) and those working in culture, media and sport (69% above average). For men, low skilled labourers in construction had a risk that was 3 times higher than that the average for England; men working in skilled construction jobs also had an increased risk. Both male and female care workers have a risk of suicide that was almost twice the national average. The toolkits produced by PHE, BITC and Samaritans include advice on steps employers can take action to prevent suicides and support them and their teams when responding to the death of an employee caused by suicide. Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive of PHE, said: Suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50, and more women are taking their own lives each year. Death by suicide is never inevitable, but for a person who is overwhelmed by feelings and events that appear insurmountable, it can seem like the only answer. People who die from suicide are usually not in contact with health services, and often push through in silence as their ability to cope deteriorates. With more than two-thirds of adults in employment, the workplace offers an opportunity to reach people who need extra support. I urge all employers, large or small, public or private sector to treat mental health as seriously as physical health. Early action can stop any employees reaching a desperate stage. Simple actions can make a huge difference - talking with a manager or colleague can help people get the support they need, and ultimately save lives. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in people aged 20 to 64 in England, and is the biggest killer of young people between 20 and 34. Important actions employers can take include introducing specialised suicide awareness prevention training for managers, mental health first aid training, and using internal communications as a function to foster a culture of openness about mental health. James Scurry,  Leona O'Neill,  Saima Mohsin, Schams Elwazer  City, University of London  John Schofield Trust  Professor Mel Bunce  Leona O'Neill  Jeremy Bowen Allan Little  Saima Mohsin  David Stenhouse (FRSA)

🌟 Rural mental health month: supporting regional Queenslanders 🌟 Accessing mental health support shouldn’t depend on where you live, but for many rural and regional Queenslanders, it’s a daily challenge. This #NationalRuralHealthMonth, we’re highlighting the unique struggles faced by these communities while celebrating their resilience. For over 30 years, selectability has been dedicated to improving mental wellbeing and suicide prevention. Our services, from NDIS to Mental Health Hubs and community programs, are designed to ensure all Queenslanders can access high-quality care locally. 👉 Read the full story: https://hubs.ly/Q02Zvw4v0 👉 Join the conversation with National Rural Health Alliance and use #RuralHealthMatters Together, we can bridge the gap and create a future where everyone thrives. 💙🌱