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

It’s important that organisations use appropriate language relating to sensitive subjects such as mental health and suicide. Samaritans point out that inappropriate use of language can perpetuate stigma or unhelpfully sensationalise or inadvertently romanticise a suicide death. By understanding the appropriate language to use, organisations can raise awareness, tackle stigma around suicide and facilitate positive conversations. 

We all have mental health, just as we all have physical health. This can fluctuate on a spectrum from good to poor and we all have times when we feel better or worse. 

Good mental wellbeing is a term that describes a positive state of mind. It enhances resilience and our ability to cope with the day-to-day stresses of life and helps us to work productively. It enables us to interact positively with others and realise our own potential. When we talk about ‘wellbeing’ in this guide, we are referring primarily to mental wellbeing, while acknowledging that this is also affected by physical health. 

Poor mental health may result from low mood, stress or anxiety. This may be because we’re feeling restless, confused, short-tempered, upset or preoccupied. 

A mental health problem is when difficult experiences or feelings linger and start affecting our ability to enjoy and live our lives in the way we want. This could involve a specific diagnosis from a doctor. For more detailed information on types of mental health problem, see Mind’s guidance. 

Work-related stress is defined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as "the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them" at work. Stress, including work-related stress, can be a significant cause of illness. Stress is not a medical diagnosis, but when severe stress continues for a long time, it may lead to a diagnosis of depression or anxiety, or more severe mental health problems. 

Sustained work-related stress can also lead to feelings of burnout, which the World Health Organization does not classify as a medical condition but defines as: "a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed". Feelings of burnout aren't always necessarily directly associated with triggering thoughts of suicide but can provide an important context in which such thoughts might further develop. 

Self-harm is when you purposefully hurt yourself as a reaction to adversity, or as a way of trying to cope with very difficult feelings, painful memories or overwhelming situations and experiences. (See Mind guidance for more information.) The Suicide Prevention Strategy for England recognises self-harm as a potential risk factor for suicide, but most people who self-harm will not go on to take their own life. However, all instances of self-harm should be taken seriously. Should self-harm be mentioned by an employee, signposting to appropriate medical or psychological therapy services, such as a GP, is advised (see NHS advice). 

It’s important to use appropriate terms so there is greater awareness and understanding about suicide. Terms appropriately used to refer to suicide include ‘take one’s life’, ‘death by suicide’, ‘suicide attempt’ and ‘person at risk of suicide’ (see Samaritans guidelines). 

Using certain terms can inadvertently contribute to the stigma associated with talking about suicide and can silence people who might otherwise seek help. 

Suicide postvention refers to the actions taken by the organisation to support people affected by a colleague who has died by suicide. Although it’s a rare event, every employer needs to be prepared to respond very quickly to a suicide death. 

There is rarely one reason why someone may take their own life; suicide is not typically caused by a single factor. The reasons why a person may be more at risk of attempting or dying by suicide are complex and cannot be oversimplified. The people professionals guide provides information on gender and occupational risk factors.

As a manager you could play an important role in supporting your team through life events and challenging health and personal circumstances. One of the most difficult and emotionally difficult situations as a manager is dealing with a team member or colleague who shares suicidal thoughts or has already attempted suicide. This could be a one-off situation, but it’s also possible that someone could have a plan to attempt suicide and/or has enduring thoughts about taking their own life. 

As a manager you cannot be expected to act as a counsellor. It’s important to have boundaries around your role and know when/how to refer someone to more specialist sources of help where needed. Your organisation should make this signposting clear to you, but if someone is in distress and tells you they are thinking about suicide, you should urge them to contact their GP or doctor in the first instance. If the crisis is immediate and you think someone is in imminent danger of taking their own life, you should call for an ambulance and not leave them alone. There is further practical guidance below. 

Alongside risk factors (those aspects that can make suicide more likely), there are protective factors (those aspects that can make suicide less likely). Again, these are multifaceted, but as a people manager it is worth considering that:

• an individual’s capacity and willingness to talk about their mental health and emotions can vary from employee to employee
• people have varying levels of support from their networks of family or friends
• you can support by signposting to professional support, such as a counsellor, the NHS or other mental health service
• you can provide opportunities to talk about suicidal thoughts, if you have a trust-based working relationship with your team members. 

The following information is also provided in the people professionals’ guide. As a manager you may be the first point of contact to spot warning signs and offer support early on. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that the signs of suicide are not always visible, but could include:  

• expression of thoughts or feelings about wanting to end their life, or talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live  
• expression of feelings of isolation, loneliness, hopelessness, or loss of self-esteem or dwelling on problems  
• withdrawal from colleagues, decrease in work performance or difficulty completing tasks  
• changes in behaviour, such as restlessness, irritability, impulsivity, recklessness or aggression  
• speaking about arranging end-of-life personal affairs, such as making a will, or concrete plans for suicide  
• abuse of alcohol or other substances  
• depressed mood or mentioning of previous suicidal behaviour  
• bullying or harassment.  

However, many people won’t show any warning signs and will do their best to conceal how they are feeling. Nonetheless, being alert to potential indicators could help to build up a picture of concern for that person’s welfare.  

These signs are not definitive on their own but could show that someone is struggling to cope and needs help. The key thing is to notice when someone’s behaviour changes by comparison with what is typical for them. Warning signs will be different for everyone, but having good relationships with your team members and the ability to recognise a change in behaviour can prompt a conversation about whether they’re okay. Further guidance on how to approach this is covered later.  

It’s important to recognise that if an individual does show some of the above signs, it’s not necessarily because they are feeling suicidal. As mentioned above, as a manager you should hopefully be in a position to recognise a behavioural change in someone and look to provide them with the support they need 

Good management behaviour will help to create a climate where people feel comfortable to talk about mental health and/or suicidal feelings. This will help to tackle the silence and stigma around suicide and hopefully encourage people to seek help if they need it. 

The CIPD/Mind People Managers’ Guide to Mental Health contains information, practical advice and templates to help you facilitate conversations about stress and mental health issues and put in place support to help people stay well and in work. Refer to the guide for more in-depth guidance on the practical steps to take across each of the following areas. 

You can help by doing the following:  

• Lead by example, by role-modelling healthy behaviour (such as an appropriate work-life balance and taking regular breaks).  
• Encourage people to talk to you if they are having a tough time. While mental ill health is a sensitive and personal issue, most people would prefer an honest and open enquiry about how they are as opposed to silence. (See the CIPD/Mind People Managers’ Guide to Mental Health for how to broach the subject, including a conversation checklist for managers.)  
• Hold regular one-to-ones where you check in on people’s wellbeing. By being open and approachable you will provide an opportunity to start the conversation; these should always be in a private, confidential setting where the employee feels respected and at ease.  
• Remember, however, that no one should be forced into talking about how they are feeling if they don’t want to.  
• Make sure your conversations are culturally sensitive, as people’s reactions will depend on personal factors such as their background, culture, race, sex, age, and religious and spiritual views.  
• Someone is more likely to discuss a sensitive issue such as mental health, stress or suicidal thoughts with you if they trust you. Showing empathy, concern and respect are essential. 
• Review the people manager guide on managing stress, this will indicate the manager’s role in preventing and managing stress for your team.  

Fostering a fair and supportive working environment that protects the dignity and respect of everyone is key to ensuring the culture is one where people can talk about mental health and other sensitive issues like suicide. You can help create this by:  

• Promoting a team culture in which unfair treatment is known to be unacceptable – by being respectful, fair and kind, you will set the tone for your team members’ behaviour and promote the importance of these behaviours across the team.  
• Encouraging team members to speak up if they experience or see unacceptable behaviour – make sure you and your team members understand your organisation’s policies on bullying and harassment.  
• Dealing with unhealthy conflict between individuals at the earliest opportunity and challenging behaviours that cross the line into being inappropriate – if you need to, get training and support to ensure you can address conflict effectively. See the CIPD guide for people managers on dealing with bullying and workplace conflict for how to handle conflict at an early, informal stage – before issues escalate into serious disputes that require the use of formal procedures. 

Recognition and early detection of mental health issues play a vital role in people being able to access the support they need. As a manager, you can help by doing the following:  

• If you think a team member is experiencing poor mental health or distress, or they disclose it, it’s essential to have a conversation with them. This conversation should include agreeing appropriate support or adjustments and signposting to more expert sources of help when required. Get agreement from your team to discuss this with HR and establish what support could look like.  
• Make sure you understand your organisation’s HR policies so that you can make helpful adjustments for people, manage any absence and the return-to-work process in a supportive way, and take any mental health issue into account during performance management.  
• If people experience poor mental health, make sure you know how to refer them to expert sources of help provided by your organisation – for example, an employee assistance programme (EAP) and occupational health (OH) services if available or to external providers where appropriate. 

Top tips for supportive listening 

• Ask simple, open, non-judgemental questions.  
• Avoid judgemental or patronising responses.  
• Speak calmly.  
• Maintain good eye contact.  
• Listen actively and carefully.  
• Encourage the employee to talk.  
• Show empathy and understanding.  
• Be prepared for some silences and be patient.  
• Focus on the person, not the problem.  
• Avoid making assumptions or being prescriptive.  
• Do not promise to keep the conversation confidential if someone has confided suicidal thoughts. 
• Follow up afterwards to check they are okay and have received help. 

As a manager, you will typically be the first point of contact if someone needs to discuss any concerns or feels distressed. You need to have the confidence to not shy away from personal or emotional issues and to feel comfortable having sensitive conversations with employees. It is important to remember that suicidal thoughts are much more common than is imagined. You also need to feel confident in signposting to expert sources of support, such as OH and an EAP, if available, and/or to GP services and external sources of support.  

Dealing with a sensitive situation like suicide can be very challenging. If you are concerned about a team member, you need to be prepared to reach out to them and ask how they are, perhaps even asking about whether they are experiencing suicidal thoughts if appropriate. However, always remember that you are not qualified to act as your team member’s counsellor, therapist or confidante, nor to give a diagnosis. Make sure you get support from HR and other experts if you are unsure how to handle the situation or if you are finding the situation challenging for your own wellbeing. 

As detailed in the people professional’s guide, remember that it is ok to talk directly about suicide.  

Many people worry that mentioning suicide to someone may encourage that individual to attempt suicide, but this is not the case. As the BSI Standard 30480 on Suicide and the Workplace states: “There is no evidence that asking someone directly if they are thinking about suicide makes them more likely to act on, or increase, those thoughts. In fact, it opens up a conversation that could help the person get the help they need”.  

Furthermore, individuals who have been experiencing suicidal thoughts will often say it’s a relief to be able to discuss what they were experiencing. As a manager, if you suspect a member of your team is having suicidal thoughts, it is recommended that you ask them about it.  

Don’t be afraid about listening to someone who shares suicidal thoughts, but be ready to signpost them to more qualified sources of help. For example, if someone is experiencing suicidal thoughts, signpost them to their GP or specialist mental health services. 

As detailed in the ‘useful definitions’ section, it’s important to use appropriate language relating to sensitive subjects such as mental health and suicide. Samaritans point out that inappropriate use of language can perpetuate stigma or unhelpfully sensationalise or inadvertently romanticise a death by suicide. 

If someone says they are having suicidal thoughts, you may then decide it is appropriate to ask them if they have had any plans or intention to act on those thoughts and encourage them to contact their GP. Knowing this additional information may help you signpost more effectively. You could also ask the individual if there is someone they trust who they would like you to contact on their behalf, such as a close friend or family member. You could then ask permission to retain the person’s contact details in case there are further situations where it would be helpful to contact them on the employee’s behalf, for example if the individual contacts you in distress.  

It’s not possible to offer full confidentiality if someone tells you that they have suicidal thoughts. If a team member asks if they can talk to you in confidence, you need to make clear – consistent with any mental health policy your organisation may have – that you may have to sensitively share information if you believe someone to be at risk. Make sure you know who to speak to if a team member shares suicidal thoughts with you: this might be HR and/or a senior manager and/or OH services if available.  

If an employee discloses they are experiencing suicidal thoughts, you should encourage them to contact their GP (or doctor) as the first step for support.  

Samaritans offers practical advice and videos explaining simple actions that can help you be there for someone who is experiencing suicidal thoughts. 

The resources from Samaritans also emphasise the importance of seeking professional support and when to step back to look after yourself. It’s important to remember that you are not a counsellor or clinician. You must remain within the boundaries of your role and offer signposting to professional help where appropriate. There are a number of specialist charities that can provide immediate and specialist support to talk to someone with suicidal thoughts, via a helpline and/or their websites and by email.  

Emergency situations  

The Samaritans guidance If you think it’s an emergency advises the following:  

• If it’s felt that the individual is in immediate danger of taking their own life, you should call an ambulance, and not leave the person alone.  

• The Samaritans have ‘in the moment advice’ when people are close to the point of attempting suicide. They might feel disassociated from others, the world around them, and even their own emotions – like they are in a bubble – and they may not show any visible signs of distress. To help burst this bubble, reach out and talk to them to help draw their attention back to the world around them by, for example, asking simple questions that don’t focus on why they are feeling the way they do, but just allow them to be present. Perhaps asking them simply to focus on their breathing, or an object in the room, can help. It is important to make the suicidal person feel safe, connected and validated.  

• Once you have helped the person in danger access emergency care, there are several ways you can support them. Being present – online, on the phone or in person – and waiting for the ambulance with them can be helpful.  

• Also be aware of dangers to others. The means of suicide can sometimes put others at risk: jumping from a tall building or walking into traffic, for example. If you are concerned about the safety of others, you should also ask for the police when calling for an ambulance, as they have the powers (unlike ambulance staff) to safely contain a situation.  

• How much support you offer is up to you. Looking after someone who is struggling with suicidal thoughts and feelings is hard. And it’s important to make sure you’re okay.  

No one should be made to feel responsible for the actions of another person who is feeling suicidal. If you or another team member provides support to someone in this situation, you need to make sure that you/they get appropriate support in turn, for example through your organisation’s OH or EAP services or similar: see Mind’s advice. 

The following guidance applies to anyone who thinks another person could be at risk of attempting suicide. It’s important to remember that people aren’t trained counsellors or clinicians so should remain within the boundaries of their role and offer signposting to professional help where appropriate. 

• If it’s felt that the individual is in immediate danger of taking their own life, you should call an ambulance, and not leave the person alone. 
• The Samaritans have ‘in the moment advice’ when people are close to the point of attempting suicide. They might feel disassociated from others, the world around them, and even their own emotions – like they are in a bubble – and they may not show any visible signs of distress. To help burst this bubble, reach out and talk to them to help draw their attention back to the world around them – for example, ask simple questions that don’t focus on why they are feeling the way they do, but just allow them to be present. Perhaps asking them simply to focus on their breathing, or an object in the room, can help. It is important to make the suicidal person feel safe, connected and validated. 
• Once you have helped the person in danger access emergency care, there are several ways you can support them. Being present – online, on the phone or in person – and waiting for the ambulance with them can be helpful. 
• Also be aware of dangers to others. The means of suicide can sometimes put others at risk: jumping from a tall building or walking into traffic, for example. If you are concerned about the safety of others, you should also ask for the police when calling for an ambulance, as they have the powers (unlike ambulance staff) to safely contain a situation. 
• How much support you offer is up to you. Looking after someone who is struggling with suicidal thoughts and feelings is hard. And it’s important to make sure you’re okay.  
• Source: Samaritans guidance If you think it’s an emergency 

As a people manager you also need to note that no one should be made to feel responsible for the actions of another person who is feeling suicidal. If you or another team member provides support to someone in this situation, you need to make sure that you/they get appropriate support in turn, for example through your organisation’s OH or EAP services or similar: see Mind’s advice. 

In addition to the services that your organisation offers, if you need to provide signposting to a member of your team, consider the following: 

• If someone feels that the intensity of their feelings is affecting their daily lives, or they are experiencing suicidal thoughts, they should seek support and contact their GP. They can also call NHS 111 for out-of-hours help.   

The people professional’s guide contains information on Being aware of access to means. 

Although it’s a rare event, an organisation needs to be prepared to respond very quickly to a death by suicide. Your organisation should have a postvention plan in place to support the response to suicide. This should include offering support to employees, including psychological support such as bereavement counselling, as well as practical support like compassionate leave.  

As a manager, you need to know your organisation’s policy and provisions for responding to the death by suicide of an employee. The psychological impact of a suicide can take time to present; you and others in your organisation should be ready to provide support at any time a person asks for it or seems like they need it.  

A number of charities provide useful services such as helplines that you can also help people access.

As a manager, you will probably be involved in implementing the organisation’s response if there is a death by suicide, particularly if the employee worked in your team. Your compassion and kindness will be instrumental in creating a caring and supportive culture that fosters peer support, in which people feel they can reach out if they need help.  

By showing compassion, through active listening and empathy, as well as by being prepared to make temporary changes to work schedules or workloads where needed, you can encourage a healthy grieving process. Having the courage to talk about how you have personally been affected by the suicide can also send an important message that it’s not a sign of weakness to express their feelings.  

Do remember you need to look after yourself too and seek support if you need it. 

Information should be communicated with caution, both because the circumstances of an individual’s death may be subject to an investigation, and to be sensitive to the needs of close family and friends. The bereaved family may not want the manner of death disclosed. Your organisation will need to decide what to tell employees about the death, in consultation with the employee’s family, who may have strong views about whether it was or wasn’t a suicide. The suicide may not be confirmed for several weeks or months, following an inquest where the coroner has to legally confirm the cause of death, and so any formal mention of the death should refer to ‘suspected suicide’. Any communication should definitely not mention the method of suicide.  

As a manager, whether or not the person worked in your team, you will need to take a sensitive approach and ensure that communication is effectively handled in your team. Think carefully about the way you choose to communicate; different approaches may be needed for different individuals. For example, if a team member was close to the employee who has died by suicide, it’s better to have the conversation in person, where you can show empathy and support, and signpost to expert help where needed.  

If some details have already been informally discussed by employees, this will need sensitive handling. It may be necessary to contain the flow of any rumours or misinformation, as these can quickly circulate to fill any vacuum in communication. This should include giving employees guidance on taking care with their use of social media. 

Everyone’s experience of grief is different, but for people bereaved by a suicide it can be particularly complicated, with feelings of shame, guilt, rejection, isolation, trauma and even a sense of responsibility. The sudden nature of the death can add to the feeling of shock some people may feel. Make sure your team knows how to access the support available to them such as OH and EAPs, if they are available, and/or help employees to access external support services such as Samaritans and other charities.  

It’s also possible that bereaved employees will experience more general poorer mental health, or their grief could exacerbate pre-existing issues. You will need to be particularly mindful and considerate of any individuals whom you know may already be vulnerable and need additional support.  

You need to feel comfortable having – and show empathy during - sensitive conversations. But you can't take on the role of counsellor, or be an expert on the grieving process. Just understand that everyone’s experience of grief and loss is different, and it can be a long process. The type of support needed should be based on individual need, as everyone is likely to be impacted differently. Consider also the practical support they may need. This may simply mean giving people the space and time to take breaks when needed to deal with the news and support each other. It could also include time off through the organisation’s compassionate leave policy to attend a funeral (with the relatives’ permission) and/or to support the grieving process, depending on the individual circumstances, as well as ongoing flexibility to help people balance work with their grief. You should know how to accommodate any leave requests and how to manage any absence in line with your organisation’s sickness absence and return-to-work processes.  

People experience bereavement and grief in different ways and will need different responses and support. As a manager, try to be as flexible as possible, and remember to:  

• be sensitive to requests for time off, especially around anniversaries and other special events  
• consider a phased return to work  
• be open to ongoing flexible working provisions.  

It’s important to understand that different cultures grieve, practise mourning rituals and respond to death in significantly different ways. Attitudes to suicide can also vary across different religions and faiths. You may need to have sensitive conversations with employees to check whether their religion or culture requires them to observe any particular practices or make special arrangements and explore what extra support would be helpful. 

Some teams find benefit in having debriefing sessions. These may be facilitated by an external person, such as a bereavement specialist or counsellor, to help members of a team talk about their experiences, and to provide an opportunity to reflect on, and develop, a positive mental health culture.  

See the CIPD guidance on compassionate bereavement support for further advice on how to support someone who has been bereaved.

Do understand that you can also be affected by what has happened, particularly if you managed the person who has died by suicide or were close to them. Don’t think you have to hide any feelings you may have, as it’s completely human to experience them. Talking about how you feel can help and can be a part of empathy. But how you react and grieve is a very personal experience. Be aware that having a responsibility to support people in your team who feel bereaved and are grieving can also place a heavy emotional toll on you as a manager. This is perfectly understandable and your organisation, including HR and your own manager, should be there for you to make sure your wellbeing is protected.  

Be mindful of your own mental wellbeing at this time of emotional crisis. If you feel deeply affected personally, don’t be afraid to seek help from some of the wellbeing resources available in your organisation, and/or from some of the external helplines and charities listed at the end of this guide. And remember, asking for help when you need it is a sign of strength and not weakness. 

As well as ensuring there’s support for the wellbeing of your team following the death by suicide of a colleague, you may need to help co-ordinate the practicalities. The empty desk or workstation of the employee will be a difficult reminder of their absence, and you and your HR team should discuss how to sensitively gather their belongings and return them to their next of kin. There needs to be careful thought about the timing – if it’s done immediately this could cause colleagues to feel upset, and so a respectful time period should be allowed. You and close colleagues of the person who has died may want to share what is likely to be a very upsetting task. You should ensure there’s appropriate support on hand for anyone who needs it.  

You and/or your HR team will also need to manage other practicalities such as informing any external clients or stakeholders that the employee has died (without being specific about the cause of death) and alternative arrangements for future contact with the organisation. Colleagues in your team will need guidance on what to say if they are asked by other colleagues and/or external people about the deceased, and an appropriate out-of-office redirect message needs to be set up. The complexity of this process will depend on the nature of the employee’s role. These tasks will be emotionally difficult, but they are necessary and could help to avoid more distressing situations, for example clients calling and asking to speak to the individual. 

Holding a memorial event or tribute

It could help to organise an appropriate and sensitively staged tribute for the deceased employee. This may be as simple as giving team members time off to go to the funeral – if this is to happen, the HR team should ask the family to check whether work colleagues are welcome. Any memorial should be approached in the same way as it would be if another colleague had died, and not treated differently just because it concerns a death by suicide. This ensures the organisation doesn’t inadvertently romanticise the death by suicide. If the organisation lays on an event to honour the life of the deceased, you need to ensure that your team members can attend if they want. Co-workers may also wish to give something positive back to the community to remember their colleague, such as organising a charity event to raise money for a cause that was close to the heart of the deceased. 

There’s a range of organisations that provide expert information and resources about suicide prevention, as well as useful guidance to help employers develop a good mental health framework.  

It’s also important to provide information on workplace support for employees. Health and wellbeing policies should link to other helpful services and resources, if you offer them, such as occupational health and employee assistance programmes, or point to external sources of support if you don’t offer them.  

Read the case study about PwC's approach to responding to suicide risk.