Working Nine-Alive Pledge
Whilst fire drills and marshals are common practice for workplaces, and Fire Action signs having been a legal requirement since 2007, the UK, unlike many other countries, does not monitor, investigate, regulate, or legally recognise work-related suicides – with a person 62 times more likely to die from suicide(1 in 88) than in a fire (1 in 5,447).
The latest findings from R;pple (Sept. 2022) show that over a fifth (21%) of employees do not feel comfortable enough to talk to their employer about possible struggles with mental health. R;pple is therefore calling on businesses to become more accountable and put as much energy into suicide prevention as they do their fire escapes.
of staff think the mental health policies in their workplace are unsatisfactory and do not think their company cares about their mental health
of staff said they do not have any mental health policies or practices at work.
of staff do not have anyone at work that they would feel comfortable talking to if they were struggling with their mental health.
of staff are either 'not sure' or 'unaware' of any suicide prevention policies in their workplace.
of staff have felt suicidal at work.
of staff have either left a job or considered leaving a job because their employer did not value the importance of mental health
Sign the Working
Nine-Alive pledge
Let's work together to create safe and supportive workplaces for all.
Even better communication to reduce the stigma of suicide & mental health
One of the greatest challenges for individuals struggling with mental health is the associated stigma which prevents them from reaching out to get treatment. Businesses have a responsibility to ensure the correct language and terminology is used, as well as ensuring mental health is embedded at the core of its company values, providing frequent, informative, and supportive internal communications for employees to learn about mental health conditions and voice concerns about their own mental health - with a zero-tolerance policy to workplace bullying and / or harassment.
Upskill employees on how to support peers and raise concerns
One of the biggest challenges in preventing suicide is being able to recognise when someone is struggling, especially if they are suffering in silence. Educate staff on how to look out for each other and the process for raising concerns.
Protect staff safety at every touchpoint
Staff health and safety online is often not considered. R;pple is a simple yet life-saving tool available as a browser extension and through Wi-Fi integration that intercepts harmful searches relating to suicide or self-harm, by instead providing resources for people to seek free, accessible 24/7 mental health support.
Ensure a ‘wellness action plan’ is in place
Create a clear action plan for any employees who have been identified as potentially vulnerable or at risk, including immediate access to support resources and ‘mental health day(s)’.
Provide support for each of the most triggering elements of the job
Work can be stressful, and there are elements specific to each industry that negatively impact employees' mental wellbeing. Employers need to ensure that workloads are realistic and achievable, and that employees aren’t taking that stress home with them; flexible working hours, support for financial struggles, meeting-free time and regular check-ins are a good way of doing this.
Download a Mental Health and Suicide Prevention pack of resources here.
