Suicide Prevention Toolkits for the Workplace
Everyone has a role to play in suicide prevention – businesses, organizations, and workplaces are no exception. The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) and the Canadian Mental Health Association – Windsor-Essex County Branch (CMHA-WECB) have developed the Suicide Prevention Toolkit: Resources for Workplaces and the Suicide Prevention Toolkit: Resources to Engage Workplaces to facilitate the creation of a culture of mental health promotion and suicide prevention for their employees. These toolkits may also be applied more broadly and adopted by organizations, schools (e.g., secondary, post-secondary), and across other institutions.
Suicide awareness is important beyond the month of September. It is especially important in the context of the mental health challenges experienced in connection to COVID-19 pandemic that we move from awareness to action.
The Need for Suicide Prevention in the Workplace
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the way that workplaces operate and function. Employers and their employees have been required to adjust and adapt to the new circumstances, while also implementing and monitoring infection control measures to help reduce the risk of spread of the virus. This includes transitioning to and from alternate work arrangements, such as working from home and compressed hours, learning about new communication methods and tools (e.g., virtual meetings), and adjusting to new workplace procedures, protocols, and policies.
The changing nature of the workplace setting, along with the new realities of the workplace environment, can create additional uncertainty, stress, and fear, which all increase the risk for employees to experience challenges with their mental health – a significant risk factor for suicidal ideation and suicide.
Additional Resources
To learn more about suicide prevention awareness, please refer to the following resources:
- Canadian Mental Health Association – Windsor-Essex County Branch – Suicide Prevention Resources
- Centre for Suicide Prevention – All Resources
- Suicide Prevention Resource Center
- Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention
Key References
Mustard, C., Bielecky, A., Etches, J., Wilkins, R., Tjepkema, M., Amick, B.C., Smith, P.M., Gnam, W.H., & Aronson, K.J. (2010). Suicide morality by occupation in Canada, 1991-2001. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 56(6), 369-376. Retrieved from: https:// doi.org/10.1177%2F070674371005500606
Canadian Mental Health Association – Windsor-Essex County Branch. (2020). Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Retrieved from windsoressex.cmha.ca/suicide-awareness
Crisis Services Canada. (n.d.b). Get Help. Retrieved from https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/thinking-about-suicide/
McIntyre, R.S., & Lee, Y. (2020). Projected increases in suicide in Canada as a consequence of COVID-19. Psychiatry Research, 290, 113104. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7236718/pdf/main.pdf