Suicide
is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States.
Employers are in a unique position to observe workers
over long stretches of time and can be instrumental in saving
a life or assisting an employee to get help. Knowing what
to look for and what to do to help someone who is at risk
for suicide are key assets and require that employers be
observant and take the necessary actions.
Learn
about suicide
You
may have noticed a change in one of your employees. Perhaps
he or she seems less productive and reliable than usual,
is calling in sick more often, or arriving late at work.
These behaviors could be indicators of many things
including a mental illness, like depression, and/or could
be signs of potential suicidal thoughts or actions.
A
strain on the workplace
Absenteeism, decreased production, on-the-job injuries,
poor morale, and troubled relationships with coworkers could
contribute to the bottom line of any business, but can also
indicate the presence of mental illness or suicidal thoughts
in an employee. There are many behaviors that can
be warning signs or associated factors to suicidal thoughts
and actions.
In fact, there is growing
evidence that what was once viewed as laziness, apathy, poor
performance or bad attitude on the job for many workers are
now properly assessed as manifestations of depression.
