Suicide prevention: how work can become a lever of protection

Psychological distress does not only knock on the door of intimacy: it also crosses our working days. In France, more than 9,000 people commit suicide each year and nearly 80,000 attempt suicide. Behind these numbers, lives, families and teams are affected. What if work, instead of being a place of stress and isolation, could become a space of protection?

The role of businesses is not limited to providing a professional environment: it can become a real lever of prevention, provided you know how to identify the signals, act with kindness and put in place concrete mechanisms.

Spot the signs before it's too late

Clues that are often subtle

Psychological distress is not always obvious. In the professional context, some signs may go unnoticed or appear trivial when they are not always:

• Gradual withdrawal or seclusion in social interactions;
• Loss of motivation or lack of interest in routine tasks;
• Words of despair or phrases like “it's not worth it anymore”;
• Sudden mood changes or behavior.

Even subtle, these signals are cries for help. Managers and colleagues need to learn to Recognize them and take them seriously.

The importance of active listening

Finding a signal is only the first step. THEActive listening and caring is essential:

• Listening without judging, allowing the person to express themselves freely
• Validate your emotions, for example with a “I believe you, I'm here”
• Ask open-ended questions to understand feelings and needs

These simple but regular actions create a spaciousness reassuring where the person can confide before the distress becomes irreversible.

Taking concrete action at work

Managers as first relays

The manager is often the first point of contact. Her role is not to become a therapist, but to detect, listen and guide :

• Training managers to identify distress signals;
• Create an environment where employees feel safe to talk;
• Suggest appropriate solutions, such as contacting an occupational physician, psychologist or Listening line.

The collective as a protective factor

Support doesn't just come from the manager. Colleagues can play a key role:

• Encourage speaking and helping each other;
• Observer and report concerning changes;
• Support procedures towards professionals.

An attentive collective reduces the feeling of isolation, a major factor in the suicide prevention.

Integrate concrete preventive measures

Resources accessible to all

External and internal devices make it possible to support anyone in distress:

• 3114 : suicide prevention, 24/7 listening, free and anonymous
• SOS Friendship : hotline available 24 hours a day
• My Psychic Support and Student Psych Health : psychological consultations taken care of
• Attending physician, occupational physician, company psychologists

The existence of these resources is not enough: we must make them visible and accessible, and encourage their use.

Everyday prevention

Prevention is not limited to ad hoc measures: it is built on a daily basis in the company :

• Establishing exchange time regular, formal, or informal;
• Set up a discreet and benevolent follow-up after a traumatic event
• Develop a Culture where talking about your difficulties is normal, and not stigmatized.

Transforming work into a protective lever

Work can become a protective space when mental health is valued and integrated into company culture. This involves:

• Of the benevolence in interactions, not only in words but in actions;
• Of concrete actions : training, follow-up after a traumatic event, accessible devices;
• One culture of attention and mutual support, where each member of the team feels empowered to take action.

Every gesture counts: listening, getting information, orienting, creating spaces for dialogue. Together, these actions transform a professional environment into a place of protection and support, capable of saving lives.

Talking about mental health in its entirety at work is not an anecdotal choice: it is a concrete act of prevention. Creating attentive, aware, and trained teams, offering accessible resources, and creating a caring culture can truly make work a Lever of protection against suicide. Every action, no matter how small, counts.

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