BSI Mental Health at Work Standards

Almost every workplace is affected by suicide at some point, these British Standard guides summarise measures that organisations can take for suicide prevention, intervention and support for those affected by suicide.

BS 30480 Suicide and the workplace - Intervention, prevention and support for people affected by suicide - Guide Suicide and the workplace – Intervention, prevention and support for people affected by suicide – Guide (PDF, 923 KB)

BS 30480 Suicide and the workplace Intervention, prevention and support for people affected by suicide - Guide is the UK's first workplace standard dedicated to suicide, helping organisations to take practical, informed action. It covers: Awareness - enabling workplaces to create open, supportive cultures. This includes tackling stigma and myths, understanding risk factors, developing the right language and recognizing the warning signs that someone may be struggling. Intervention - what to do if someone is at risk. It covers how to ask about suicide directly, how to respond appropriately, how to develop policies and safety plans and how to manage confidentiality and care in the moment. Support after a suicide - guidance on caring for those bereaved or affected. This includes advice for line managers and HR, planning for return to work and how to communicate with care, confidence and consistency

Suicide and the workplace: A practical first steps guide                                                                                                            Suicide and the workplace: A practical first steps guide (PDF, 25 MB)

This guide complements BS 30480 Suicide and the workplace - Intervention, prevention and support for people affected by suicide and assists organisations to begin with clarity, confidence and care in a manageable and realistic way.

It has been developed to help organisations of all sizes gain:

• a clear understanding of why suicide is a workplace issue
• practical actions to take and adopt straight away
• advice on adapting these steps for smaller organisations and freelancers.