Some of city's biggest organisations pledge to tackle suicide in the workplace after signing charter
“Those early conversations in the workplace can be crucial to saving lives”
Some of the city and region’s biggest and best know organisations have today (September 9) signed the Stand Up to Suicide Charter to promote mental wellbeing in the workplace and tackle the too often taboo subject of suicide.
The initiative was coordinated by the mental health charity Washington Mind with representatives from around 30 businesses and organisations attending the charity’s seminar ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10.
According to the charity, there are on average “between 6,000 and 7,000 suicide deaths in the UK each year”
Washington Mind CEO Jacqui Reeves said: “This charter is all about saving lives. It’s about a community resource that targets the workplace so organisations can show their commitment to mental health and preventing suicide.
“We know the majority of people who take their own lives are of working age, so while charities like ourselves work every day with people who may have suicidal thoughts, we can help them as they have come through our door. But we know a lot of people don’t seek help from mental health services which is where the role of the workplace comes in.
“It may be a colleague or a friend and it’s having that ability to ask the right questions and open that dialogue on mental health.”
Organisations signed up to the charter can display the Stand up to Suicide charter mark and access training and resources for staff, including signposting people who may be struggling with their mental health to where they can get professional help.
Jacqui added: “We know that one in five people at any one time can be having suicidal thoughts and in the Sunderland area we do have an issue with suicide.
“A lot of the people having these thoughts are in work and so the workplace provides an opportunity to reach these people. Those early conversations in the workplace can be crucial to saving lives.”
16 organisations including Tyne & Wear Fire and Rescue Service, Citizens Advice, Education Partnership North East, and the University of Sunderland have either signed or committed to sign the charter.
One of the region’s biggest transport providers, Stagecoach North East have also signed the charter.
Managing director Steve Walker said: “This is hugely important to us as a major employer in the area. When you look at the stats that one in five people are are having suicidal thoughts, that’s at least 260 of our staff that potentially need to talk to someone. We also have a role in the wider community to spread the message of support.
“It’s about starting to get suicide talked about so we can begin to tackle it.”
The Sunderland based charity WWIN Domestic Abuse have also signed up to the charter.
The charity’s health and wellbeing manager Judith Willoughby said: “We support people affected by domestic abuse and research shows we are losing three women a week because of the link between domestic abuse and suicide. We also need to help our staff who support these women. It’s a very challenging role and they also need that additional support.
“Suicide is a national tragedy which we can’t ignore.”
Jade Gilbertson, health and wellbeing manager at the Foundation of Light, SAFC’s official charity, was at the seminar and confirmed to the Echo that they “intend to sign the charter”.
She added: “We already do a lot of work with Washington Mind on suicide prevention including providing dedicated support on matchdays for anyone struggling with their mental wellbeing. This charter is about supporting both our staff and the wider community.”
Nissan, who employ around 6,000 people across the city were also represented at the event, and are looking into the possibility of signing up to the charter.
Health and wellbeing team lead Andrew Wildish said: “I know of at least two people who took their own lives and so signing up to this charter is something we are definitely interested in.”