A new resource has been launched to help employers play their part in reducing incidences of suicide among workers in the UK.
A new resource has been launched to help employers play their part in reducing incidences of suicide among workers in the UK.
The Suicide Prevention toolkit has been put together by Public Health England (PHE), The Samaritans and Business in the Community. It is aimed at encouraging working cultures in which good mental and physical health is promoted, and helping employers understand how best to support those in need.
This comes at a time of heightened awareness of mental health issues. According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, workers in certain industries may be more at risk than others. Here are some of the results of the analysis commissioned by PHE:
Men working in the lowest-skilled occupations had a 44% higher risk of suicide than the male national average
In skilled trades, the highest risk occupation for men was building finishing trades – plasterers, painters, decorators in particular
The culture, media and sport industry posed a 20% higher than male average risk and a 69% higher than female average risk
The risk of suicide among female health professionals was 24% higher than the female national average
The risk for male and female carers was nearly twice the national average
The survey also revealed that the lowest risk of suicide was among the highest paid occupation group; those working as managers, directors and senior officials. But one of the points made in the report is that suicide risk may be less about the actual occupation and more about features of the job – which include pay and job security.
If you’re interested in reading the report in full, you’ll find it by clicking here.
You can find the toolkit, by clicking here.
