It’s time to talk about suicide prevention – and our experts can help.
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It’s time to talk about suicide prevention – and our experts can help.




September 08 is the beginning of National Suicide Prevention Week in American, included in that week on the 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day.


The workplace, for many suffering mental health issues, can be a place where effective strategies and policies can help prevent acts of suicide from occurring.


A recent report prepared by Unum revealed some startling gaps in America’s workplaces. The report reveals that just 25 percent of managers in the U.S. have received training on how to refer employees to mental health resources, and more than half of people are unsure how they would help a colleague who came to them with a mental health issue.


The report also found that:


  • Mental illness is one of the top causes of worker disability in the U.S., and 62 percent of missed workdays can be attributed to mental health conditions
  • 55 percent of employees said their employer did not have, or they were unsure if their employer had, a specific program, initiative, or policy in place to address mental health
  • 76 percent of employees were confident their managers were properly trained on how to identify employees who may be having a mental health issue, while just 16 percent of HR professionals felt the same
  • 92 percent of employees said they thought their employer’s managers were trained on how to refer employees to mental health resources, while just 25 percent of HR professionals said their managers are provided that training
  • Among employees with a mental health issue, 42 percent have come to work with suicidal feelings
  • 61 percent of employees feel there’s a social stigma in the workplace towards colleagues with mental health issues; half of them feel that stigma has stayed the same or worsened in the previous five years


If you are a reporter covering Suicide Prevention Week and need expert insight into how America’s employers can make a difference – then let us help with your stories.


Michelle Jackson is the Assistant Vice President, Market Development for Unum, a leading provider of workplace financial protection benefits. She specializes in mental and behavioral health, and workplace issues. She is available to speak with media - simply click on her icon to arrange an interview.




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