Worker Fatalities Rates Decline, but Worker Suicide Rates Increase

A recent report by the Bureau of Labor statistics reveals that companies are losing more and more employees to suicide—and they don’t really know what to do about it.

This might not be news to you: suicide rates in the U.S. have been on the rise in many age groups, especially teenagers and young adults. However, suicide rates have also been climbing among employees in the workforce—even when worker fatality rates are dropping.

A report from last month by the Bureau of Labor Statistics said that suicides among workers for 2018 totaled 304—an 11 percent increase from the previous year and the highest number since the bureau began tracking the data 26 years ago.

Not only are families losing loved ones, but companies are unsure on how to address the problem. A Washington Post article dives into the conversation.

“Ten years ago, most companies saw suicide as a personal or medical issue, and would say it has nothing to do with work,” said Sally Spencer-Thomas, a psychologist and board president of United Suicide Survivors International, a prevention advocacy group. “I was banging my head against the wall trying to convince companies to talk to me. Compared to now, when I’m getting calls from major global conglomerates seeking me out, looking for answers and strategy. There’s almost too much to do.”



It's often difficult to discern one contributing factor to a person’s suicide, but recent studies on relationships, work environments, and employee mental health do know one thing: a person’s workplace culture and environment can indeed affect that person’s mental health.

So executives are asking: how can we help employees? How can we counsel and support co-workers and those who witnessed the death? What should we say publicly and how much should be disclose internally?

One situation that gained a significant amount of press was when a Facebook employee jumped from the fourth floor of a company building last year in Menlo Park, California. His death incited many accusations of harsh work environments for some of the company’s foreign employees. The controversy got even more heated when a Facebook coworker who shared his criticism about the event and was fired shortly afterwards. Facebook representatives later confirmed the co-worker was dismissed but said it was not because he spoke out about the suicide and work conditions.