Employco USA's Wilson on Preventing Workplace Suicide
Employco USA's Wilson on Preventing Workplace Suicide
In an effort to reduce these tragedies, President of Employco USA and Human Resources Expert Rob Wilson joined GoLocal to discuss what workplaces can do to help and prevent workplace suicides.
According to Wilson, 291 of the nearly 45,000 suicides committed in 2016 occurred in the workplace. He says its important for employers to make support systems available and provide trained human resources staff that are able to recognize signs of severe depression and intervene as needed. One of the most important steps, Wilson says, is to ensure counseling and support services are available to any employee who needs it.
On a more individual level, Wilson also stresses the importance of being aware of fellow coworkers, from checking in on them if they are going through a rough time to knowing and recognizing signs of depression.
“You want to make sure a bad day doesn’t turn into a really bad day,” Wilson said.
Signs of Severe Depression
- Expressing hopelessness and sudden bursts of anger or sadness
- Constant exhaustion
- Changes in weight gain or loss or sudden increase or loss of appetite
- Lack of focus on work
- Frequent references to suicide or death
According to Wilson, one of the best things a co-worker, friend, or loved one can do is reach out and connect with someone who may be depressed or suicidal. Outside of the workplace, there are dozens of local and national organizations dedicated to helping those at their lowest points.
“If it comes down to it, and you don’t know where else to go, just take out your smartphone and Google ‘suicide prevention,’’’ Wilson said. “There are plenty of resources out there.
If you or someone you know is experiencing severe depression or thoughts of suicide, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline can be reached 24 hours a day at 1-800-273-8255.