Background
Based on the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing (Slade et al., 2009), it is estimated that at some point in their lifetime, about 2.1 million adults in Australia have had serious thoughts about ending their own life, and 500,000 have attempted suicide. Based on the survey, each year about 370,000 Australians think about ending their life and there are 65,000 suicide attempts.
Australian Bureau of Statistics figures for 2015 put the lives lost from suicide at 3,027, making it the 13th leading cause of death in Australia for that year. Suicide was the leading cause of death among those aged 15 to 44 years, and the second leading cause of death in the 45 to 54 age group.
Males died from intentional self-injury at three times the rate of females. Western Australia’s resources industry workforce is predominantly male, with workers mainly aged between 25 and 45 (Education and Health Standing Committee, 2015).
The factors surrounding suicide are complex and varied. They may arise from events happening in an individual’s home life, work life, or a combination of the two. Employers should be aware of workplace hazards that may impact on mental health and take measures as far as is practicable to manage the potential for psychosocial harm. The aim is to support good mental health and reduce the likelihood of suicide and attempted suicide. Within the resources sector, strategies should cover the workplace and, if provided, associated accommodation facilities.
Summary of hazard
Risk factors
The presence of particular risk factors increases the likelihood of suicidal behaviour. Awareness of these risk factors, including those listed below, is useful when considering the needs of a group or workforce in general:
- a history or family history of mental health problems
- being male
- family discord, violence or abuse
- a family history of suicide
- a chronic medical condition, or being a carer for a person with such a condition
- parenthood
- using alcohol and other drugs
- being indigenous
- identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex
- poverty or low income
- social or geographical isolation
- bereavement.
Contributory factors
Employees may respond differently to the various stressors experienced in a work environment. While people are generally able to adjust to short-term stressors and continue performing their normal work duties, any stress that develops into a long-term issue may affect a person’s psychological and physical health.
Work stressors can include:
- bullying, harassment or discrimination
- being performance managed
- work-related interpersonal conflict or relationship breakdown
- stressful working conditions (e.g. excessive hours, fatigue)
- business-related financial difficulties
- business restructures
- impending redundancies
- work-related compensation claims
- pain, depression or mobility limitations after workplace injury
- involvement in work-related court proceedings.
Measures taken to eliminate or reduce work stressors can help prevent work-related suicide and promote good mental health.