Supporting Suicide Prevention in the Workplace

Many years ago, there was a suicide in my workplace.

Our Managing Director at the time had a reputation for being a tough cookie – sharp, driven, no-nonsense. But those of us who worked closely with her knew she was soft inside. And when this happened, she struggled enormously. We all did.

It didn’t matter whether we’d known the colleague well or barely at all – the shock was profound. The ripple effect across the team was immediate and disorientating. We were grieving, guilty and unsure what to say to one another, let alone how to mark it internally, and our MD struggled with what to say to the family and to us.

We planted a tree with a plaque in her memory

Looking back, our MD’s instincts were good. She brought honest compassion to the situation. But even she would have admitted she was navigating in the dark.

If a suicide happened in your workplace tomorrow, would you know what to do?
Would your managers? Your HR team? Your colleagues?

Most people wouldn’t. Not because they don’t care, but because this is one of the hardest scenarios any organisation can face.

That’s why the new British Standard BS 30480:2025 – Suicide and the Workplace matters so much. Developed by a cross disciplinary team - including a good friend of mine who is a Risk professional and a suicide survivor, this standard is FREE to download here

BS 30480:2025 provides practical, compassionate guidance on how workplaces can prevent suicide, intervene safely when someone is in crisis, and support people afterwards. It recognises the emotional reality – that suicide affects far more people than we think, and the workplace is often where the impact is felt most.

For every life lost to suicide, at least 135 people are affected – colleagues included.
And most suicides involve people of working age.

This means that whether we talk about it or not, suicide is a workplace issue.

The standard helps organisations move from “we wouldn’t know where to start” to “we have a plan, we have tools, and we know how to support each other.”

One of the most valuable aspects of BS 30480 is how practical it is. It doesn’t just talk about culture and compassion – it gives you tools.

Includes:

• conversation guides

• crisis management steps

• checklists for what to do after a suicide

• support guidance for colleagues returning after a suicide attempt

These remove uncertainty at moments when the brain freezes.

Managers are often the first to notice changes but the least trained.
This toolkit gives them:

• warning sign guidance

• phrasing for asking directly about suicide

• steps to follow in a crisis

• templates for individual safety plans

• guidance on supporting a team after a suicide

Simple. Clear. Life-saving.

Language shapes stigma.
BS 30480 gives examples of:

• supportive, direct language

• phrases to avoid

• how to talk to a team compassionately after a suicide
  

This is an area many organisations get wrong simply because they don’t know what “right” looks like.

Organisations can audit:

• culture

• processes

• leadership confidence

• readiness to respond
  

This means you don’t have to guess where the gaps are – they become visible.

Perhaps the most needed and least understood element.
Includes:

• how to support those closest

• what to do for witnesses

• how to talk to a team

• how to manage media

• long-term support steps
  

This is exactly what my MD was trying to navigate without support all those years ago.

You can’t undo a suicide.
But you can prevent one.
And you can protect the wellbeing of everyone affected when the unthinkable happens.

Having plans in place means:

A culture that understands suicide, and managers who can say “Are you thinking about suicide?” calmly and compassionately, can save a life.

Clear processes reduce fear and increase confidence.

The trauma of a suicide can last for years if unsupported.

This is part of modern, ethical organisational duty of care.

Prepared workplaces save lives.

With this standard, you don’t have to navigate this alone.