It’s a matter of life and death

Across the world, more than 720,000* people die each year due to suicide. To put it bluntly, that figure would fill Wembley Stadium eight times over. That’s every year. Think about that. 

In England alone, 5,717 suicides were registered in 2024.

It’s difficult to know to what extent work is related to these deaths but a 2025 International Labour Organization report highlighted that in Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, for example, there were 1,304 officially recognised cases of overwork-related deaths and health disorders in 2024. There’s a dreadful irony to that statistic. And of those cases, well over a thousand involved mental health disorders, including 89 suicides or attempted suicides (MHLW 2025).

So, we’re not dealing with a side issue here. Men are more likely to take their own lives than women, especially those in middle-age and, in England and Wales, suicide is more common in the building and construction sector, skilled manual trades, transport and logistics and care-related occupations (male paramedics, for example, have a 75% higher suicide risk than the national average).

*World Health Organization

It’s good to talk

As with all matters of occupational safety and health, prevention is the key. So, encouraging work colleagues to talk about mental health, creating an honest and open culture where everyone feels they can ask for help if they need it, is paramount. This depends on building good positive relationships and trust between team members, where support becomes readily available for anyone who is going through a tough time, whether it be with their mental health, a long-term health condition, domestic violence, financial problems, bereavement or disciplinary action, dismissal or redundancy, for example.

It’s even better to listen

Just letting a colleague know you’re there for them could be enough to keep them alive. The key here could be simply to listen, not to try to come up with all the ‘answers’.

Effective, supportive listening will be reinforced if you:

• Ask simple, open, non-judgemental questions
• Avoid judgemental or patronising responses
• Speak calmly
• Make good eye contact
• Encourage the other person to talk
• Show empathy and understanding
• Stay patient and be comfortable with the odd silence
• Follow up afterwards to check that the person is OK and has received help.

Take action where needed

• Make reasonable adjustments – this may involve allowing some flexibility on work schedules for those who are vulnerable and for those who need to attend counselling or medical appointments, for example
• Provide mental health education for both managers and employees
• Signpost someone to their GP or appropriate support services if they say they’re having suicidal thoughts.

Remember…

No-one can be expected to have all the answers and there are plenty of resources out there that you can use:

How to talk about suicide and provide support at work

Bupa Care guidance

WHO guidance for employers or managers

Discussing suicide in the workplace – A guide for managers

CIPD guidance on Responding to suicide risk in the workplace: A guide for people managers

Zero Suicide Alliance (ZSA)/R;pple Suicide Prevention – a practical guide

Business Disability Forum – Having sensitive conversations

MIND – for guidance on helping someone who may be feeling suicidal but is not at immediate risk

Mental health helplines

MIND’s guide to planning for a mental health crisis and tips for coping with suicidal thoughts

How to take urgent action

Practical steps to take if you think someone may be suicidal – Mind

Rethink Mental Health guidance

NHS 111 England or NHS 111 Wales

Emergency GP appointment

Samaritans – call 116 123 or try another helpline or listening service