World suicide prevention month

Globally, more than 700,000 people take their own life every year and suicide is the fourth leading cause of death amongst 15- to 19-year-olds across the world.¹ In the United States, the total number of workplace suicides has risen by 39% since 2000 and it is widely believed that the figures cited are an underrepresentation as it is difficult to classify an incident as work-related if it occurs outside of the workplace.² In the UK, new research shows workers are facing increasing stress relating to the current cost of living crisis. This strengthens the need for employers to take action to protect workers’ mental health.³

Suicide is a critical issue that affects everyone, so we urge everyone to learn how they can support themselves and others around them this World Suicide Prevention Month. Explore these topics, resources and tools from Optum, a UnitedHealth Group company, to support coworkers, employees and yourself.

For employees:

• Suicide prevention and recovery article
• Social posts to help promote suicide prevention and recovery
• Digital screens for display monitors*

For managers:

• Leaders supporting recovery in the workplace podcast
• World Suicide Prevention Day article
• Suicide prevention training

For yourself and those you care about:

• Using positive affirmations tip sheet
• Even your strong friends might need support tip sheet*
• Opioid use and misuse are on the rise article*
• Taking care of yourself when you’re supporting someone through recovery article*
• 5 things that belong in your mental health emergency kit tip sheet*
• How to create a recovery support network tip sheet*

By increasing awareness and taking action, we can create hope and save lives. Sign up to livewell.com for more mental health and emotional wellbeing support.

*Access code required. Please reach out to your UnitedHealthcare Global representative to receive the access code. 

Sources:

1: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide
2: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/27/us-workplace-suicide-rates-pandemic
3: https://www.covermagazine.co.uk/news/4054691/financial-pressures-stress-factor-uk-employees