Employers Must Take Suicide Prevention Seriously – IOSH
As the world marks World Suicide Prevention Day 2025, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is urging employers to place suicide prevention at the centre of workplace safety. With more than 720,000 people dying by suicide every year, IOSH says organisations have a unique opportunity—and responsibility—to change the narrative.
IOSH emphasises that workplaces are often the first places where signs of distress—such as changes in mood, behaviour, or performance—become visible. This makes employers critical to early intervention, provided they foster psychologically safe environments.
“Work is where we spend a large part of our lives, which means it can either be a place of pressure or a source of support,” IOSH stated. “Employers must take this seriously if we are to save lives.”
Practical Steps for Employers
IOSH maintains that suicide prevention is not about being a medical expert but about creating supportive daily practices. The organisation is encouraging employers to implement measures such as:
- Routine one-on-one check-ins between managers and staff
- Peer support networks and mental health champions
- Honest, stigma-free workplace conversations
- Integration of psychosocial risk management into safety assessments
- Training and awareness on mental health and suicide prevention
Ruth Wilkinson, IOSH’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, reinforced this message, saying:
“You don’t have to fix someone’s problems—you just have to be there. A simple ‘How are you?’ can start a conversation that offers hope.”
Changing the Narrative
The theme of Changing the Narrative on Suicide this year mirrors IOSH’s wider campaign for cultural change in workplace safety. Beyond awareness, the focus is on openness, empathy, and creating conditions where workers feel safe to speak up.
Backing long-term change, IOSH is supporting the development of British Standard BS 30480, a framework that will help organisations embed suicide prevention strategies into their operations.
Suicide prevention is not the job of health professionals alone. Everyone has a role to play, especially leaders responsible for workplace culture. By embedding psychological safety into health and safety strategy, IOSH believes employers can help protect lives and truly change the narrative.
