Workplace interventions to prevent suicide: A scoping review.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Public Health
• Psychology

Background:

• Suicide significantly impacts working-age adults, necessitating employer responsibility for workplace safety and mental well-being.
• Employers have legal and ethical duties to ensure a safe work environment, including addressing suicide prevention and promoting mental health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map organizational interventions for workplace suicide prevention.
• To identify intervention effects, mechanisms, moderators, implementation, economic costs, and evaluation methods.

Main Methods:

• A realist perspective was employed to understand what works, for whom, and under what circumstances.
• A systematic search of six databases identified 36 interventions across various industries.
• The Effect, Mechanism, Moderator, Implementation, Economic (EMMIE) framework was used for data extraction and analysis.

Main Results:

• Interventions were implemented in diverse sectors including military, healthcare, and construction.
• Education and training on recognizing signs of stress and suicidality were common mechanisms.
• Most studies reported positive effects on suicide rates, suicidality, mental illness symptoms, and attitudes, with interventions suggested as cost-effective.

Conclusions:

• Organizational suicide prevention programs show promise in improving attitudes and reducing suicide risk.
• Education empowering individuals to recognize mental health and suicidality signs in themselves and others is a foundational element.
• Interventions are likely effective and potentially cost-effective, supporting a safer work environment.