10 September 2024

World Suicide Prevention Day: an opportunity for employers to review their support, says Towergate Employee Benefits

Towergate Employee Benefits is encouraging employers to review their mental health support in light of World Suicide Prevention Day, Tuesday 10 September 2024.

Debra Clark, head of wellbeing at Towergate Employee Benefits explains: “Awareness Days are an opportunity for employers to review how they support their employees, and also to help employees help themselves too.”

Prevention

The company emphasises the importance of prevention. This includes understanding what might cause stress in employees, which may be inside or outside of work. Potential causes of strain at work may include bullying, discrimination, abuse, uncertainty about job security, or lack of support for workload. Employers are in a unique position to build a culture that mitigates against these issues in the workplace.

Build employee resilience

Employers can help employees understand the importance of looking after their own wellbeing, as well as offer health and wellbeing programmes that help employees build resilience. This can include encouraging a healthy lifestyle, good sleep hygiene, and prioritising fitness.

Intervention

If an employee is struggling, then support is available. Training staff as Mental Health First Aiders can enable them to spot the signs that people may be struggling and signpost to support. Workplace EAPs can offer in-the-moment support for anyone struggling, and charities, including the Samaritans, are available to help in times of crisis.

Rehabilitation

There is a wealth of specialist support available for employers to support mental health, including fast-track access to specialist counselling to help people manage their wellbeing.

Debra Clark says: “There are some simple steps that employers can take to support the mental health of their staff, and it starts with prevention. If employees need specialist help, then it is available, and we’d encourage employers to investigate the options and make it available to their staff.”

The theme for World Suicide Prevention Day 2024 is ‘Changing the narrative on suicide’. This means making a systematic change, shifting from a culture of silence and stigma to one of openness, understanding and support. Employers need to prioritise mental health and increase access to support. The workplace can create its own culture from the top down and support can be offered through health and wellbeing benefits.