Saving Lives: The Importance of Suicide Prevention in Schools and Workplaces

This Suicide Prevention Month, we are taking a look at the issue of suicide – and what we can do to better prevent it. Over the years, suicide rates have continued to rise. In fact, suicide rates increased by 36% between the year 2000 and 2022, with a total of 49,476 deaths being attributed to suicide in 2022 alone. And, in 2023, those numbers soared above 50,000. That is one death by suicide almost every 10 minutes. The numbers for those who are contemplating, or even planning their suicide, are even higher. In the United States, the statistics surrounding suicide are frightening – and, in many categories, they are trending in the wrong direction.

Often, unhealthy workplace factors can be a top contributor to mental health problems, including depression and anxiety, which can put someone at a greater risk of suicidal ideation or even of following through with suicide. According to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, this is particularly true for people in industries like construction, manufacturing, maintenance and repair, protective services and first responders, arts and entertainment, home healthcare, transportation, and machinists. The figures for suicide rates among students are also alarming, with Scientific American reporting that the risk of suicide increases for K-12 students on school days. The numbers are even higher for students struggling with things like bullying, stress, issues of identity and sexuality, and more.

For college students, 28% of those surveyed reported intentionally hurting themselves within the last year, with 15% reporting that they struggled with suicidal ideation, and with 2% attempting suicide.

While even this small snapshot of such figures may feel overwhelming, it is necessary to paint a picture of the full scope of this ongoing epidemic in our communities, schools, and workplaces.

The Need for Suicide Prevention Efforts

The good news is that suicide prevention and awareness education is an important way we can work to combat this mental health crisis, and there are many ways we must continue to improve our efforts. This pervasive issue affects us all – business leaders; teachers, staff, and students; and employees in all industries – and we all have a role to play in its prevention. Indeed, the workplace can be an invaluable resource on the side of suicide education, prevention, and intervention.

By investing in and offering mental health and suicide prevention training opportunities alongside technology solutions that can help safeguard lives, you will help empower and protect both those who may be at risk of suicide, as well as those who are in a position to offer support to those who are deeply struggling.

Training & Tech to Protect Workplaces, Schools, and Communities

Here are training and technology solutions you can employ to help ensure your workplace, schools, and communities are safer and healthier places for everyone.

1. Preventative Education

Preventative education is one of the primary tools in your toolkit to help safeguard mental wellness. Not only can such education help highlight early warning signs or red flags to watch out for, but it can also help learners understand trauma-informed care and basic intervention techniques and strategies, along with next steps and other best practices. Additionally, training can offer empowering strategies for those struggling with issues like anxiety and depression.

Ensure your team has the right tools and time to prioritize mental wellness and suicide prevention by providing them with preventative education opportunities. Vector’s high-quality, easily accessible online training libraries offer essential resources for mental health and crisis management. By equipping your team with these tools, you enhance their ability to handle stress, recognize warning signs, and support each other effectively. Ultimately, a culture focused on mental wellness and proactive training leads to better performance and a healthier, more positive workforce that is less likely to struggle with dangerous mental health issues.

2. Community Resources

At Vector Solutions, as a central part of our mission, we provide our clients and communities with the educational tools they need to thrive and cultivate emotionally healthy homes and workplaces. This approach can be a powerful aid in suicide prevention. That’s why we are proud to offer Vector Cares, a catalog of free online training courses that can be accessed by anyone at any time on critical topics such as supporting LGBTQ+ employees, understanding and addressing PTSD, and preventing youth suicide – all aimed at fostering a more inclusive and supportive workplace.

Vector Cares offers comprehensive resources to raise awareness and enhance understanding of mental wellness. Our initiative provides a range of free micro-courses designed to help your staff and leadership recognize and address mental health challenges before they escalate to the unthinkable.

3. Early Intervention Technology

As leaders in the business or educational world, you are better poised than ever to leverage technology solutions to help safeguard lives in your organization, schools, and communities. For example, at Vector Solutions, we offer something called Guardian Tracking, a solution for monitoring and managing employee well-being. It provides early warnings to identify those who may need additional support or training before issues arise, allowing teams to foster a proactive approach to mental health. By recognizing and addressing concerns early, solutions like Guardian Tracking help maintain a supportive and responsive workplace culture. This customizable tool alerts leadership when specific thresholds are met, enabling timely interventions such as coaching, supportive conversations, or even recognition for outstanding performance. Effective tracking and notifications promote a healthier work environment, support employees’ mental wellness, help retain top talent – and, most importantly, can help save lives.

4. Health & Mental Wellness Apps

Organizations can do a lot of good for their employees by offering access to various stress management tools. This may involve buying subscriptions to apps or other wellness websites or programs focused on mindfulness, stress reduction, and mental well-being, helping employees manage their mental health on a daily basis in the workplace. Examples include meditation apps like Headspace or Calm Business, which can be integrated into workplace wellness programs. Other apps can provide your team with self-assessment quizzes that help them gauge their mental health status and self-identify when they might need to seek professional help or support.

5. Anonymous Reporting Systems

Another strategy to help decrease the likelihood of mental health crises and prevent suicides is to provide your employees with convenient, confidential reporting tools. Online platforms can enable employees to report concerns they may have about themselves or colleagues, and to do so anonymously. Such platforms can go a long way to helping overcome the fear of stigma that is often associated with seeking assistance for mental health concerns. Additionally, offering peer support networks within the workplace can help prevent those who are struggling with depression, anxiety, or other issues from isolating. Platforms can match employees with peers who have experienced similar challenges, providing a safe space to share experiences and offer mutual support.

Preventative Care Helps Saves Lives

The rising suicide rates in the United States and the alarming statistics across various demographics underscore the urgent need for comprehensive suicide prevention efforts in our schools and workplaces. As an industry leader, you hold immense potential to be a force for positive change in the ongoing battle against suicide.

This September, which is Suicide Prevention Month, we hope you will take time to evaluate and improve your suicide education and prevention efforts, although such work must be a continuous, year-round responsibility.

Whether you work in manufacturing, home healthcare, protective services, arts and entertainment, maintenance and repair, or some other industry, prioritizing mental health care and early intervention solutions are cornerstones in the foundation of suicide prevention. By investing in mental health and suicide prevention training, leveraging early intervention technologies, and fostering a culture of openness and support, organizations can play a pivotal role in safeguarding the mental wellness – and, ultimately, the lives – of their employees, students, and communities.