Comcare have launched their new guidance on preventing work-related suicide and responding to incidents of suicidal behaviour in a trauma-informed way.
The preventing work-related suicide guidance is aimed at employers and other information seekers, to help workplaces understand the work-related factors that may contribute to suicidal behaviours and to develop and implement controls to manage the risks created by those factors.
The guide identifies potential contributing organisational and work environment factors, such as:
- Workplace culture – ‘horseplay’ and ‘hazing’; reliance on alcohol for socialisation; low importance placed on workers monitoring each other’s moods and behaviours; stigma around help-seeking behaviours; and unhealthy norms around workloads and resilience.
- Policies and procedures – poor change management practices; inadequate disciplinary processes, lack of robust reporting and consultation mechanisms; inadequate management of exposure to vicarious trauma or objectionable material.
- Information and training – lack of understanding among leaders of the nature, drivers and signs of suicidal behaviours; lack of training on how to respond to disclosures; lack of awareness among workers of available support.
- Work environment – aggression or violence from clients or members of the public; easy, unmonitored access to means one might use to hurt themselves; exposure to traumatic events (for example, by prison officers, first responders and defence personnel).
- Lack of opportunity for connection with peers – working in isolation; transient workforces (such as in construction and transport).
- Poor work design – work that is designed in a way that introduces (or fails to manage) psychosocial hazards, such as low job control, sustained and severe job demands, emotional demands and cumulative stress.
Where risk factors are identified the guidance highlights relevant considerations, what types of data can be gathered, and reasonably practicable steps to take to eliminate or minimise the risk through reviewing work systems, work practices, work environment, and other psychosocial hazards.
The guidance on responding to incidents of suicidal behaviour can assist workplaces to develop systems to provide trauma-informed support, investigate incidents and, for those working under the Comcare system, to understand notification obligations and the role of Comcare in incident response.
Although most workplaces in Victoria fall under the Victorian OHS Act, in the absence of guidance from WorkSafe Victoria this Comcare guidance provides a useful resource for workplaces seeking to prevent work-related suicide and respond to incidents in a trauma-informed way and contributes to our state of knowledge on this difficult subject.
Read more: Suicide prevention and response | Comcare