Knowing what to do if a member of staff is suicidal or self harming is a legal requirement for your business.

In most situations the conversations you have with someone are confidential. However, the only situation in which you can, and in fact must break confidentiality, is when they there is a risk to themselves and/or others. You will need to share information with the appropriate people/agencies.

For example: they disclose they have self-harmed or you observed indications of self-harming, they have said that they are suicidal or are at risk of hurting themselves or others.

If there is immediate risk to life, you then have a duty of care and must call 999 for the immediate presence of a medical professional and ALWAYS stay with them until help arrives, even if they want to go to the toilet.

It’s important to note that whilst asking someone you suspect may be self-harming or suicidal the direct question, “Are you self-harming?” or “Have you been suicidal?”, is part of your Duty of Care to protect that person and others, it must only ever be done whilst you are face-to-face with them.

If you are working remotely and suspect that person may pose that immediate risk to themselves or others, you can call 101 and raise a “Welfare Concern” for a professional from the appropriate authorities to visit their house and ensure the relevant support is put in place as well as making your HR or People Team aware so they can contact their Emergency Contact.

Self-injury or Self-harm can be a difficult thing to deal with, so feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions. Remember, if you think that someone is at risk it’s okay to break confidentiality to speak with appropriate people or agencies about the situation.

Self-injury or Self-harm is typically defined as purposeful, physical harm to oneself. There are lot’s of different reasons why someone begins and continues to self-harm but it is typically used as a way of coping with complex and intense emotion.

It’s not about attention seeking but it is to transform those difficult to cope with emotions into something that is physical.

Self-injurious behaviour is slightly different to the physical action of self-harming. This is where someone engages in activities that can purposefully put themselves in harms way. This could include purposefully taking drugs and alcohol out of moderation through to walking too close to a road or driving without a seat belt. If the intent is to potentially cause themselves harm, this can be seen as self-injurious behaviour.

There are many reasons why someone may be suicidal, whether it’s the anniversary of a traumatic life event or a series of negativity in their lives. Knowing how to spot it and what to do about it at work is key to helping that person get the help they need.

Any of the following could be potential warning signs for suicide:

• Excessive sadness which is long-lasting including potential mood-swings or out-of-the-blue severe aggressiveness
• Appearing hopeless, maybe displaying a deep sense of hopelessness about the future without a view of it improving
• Excessive sleep problems
• Sudden calmness or peacefulness – following a period of depression or mood swings, this calmness or peacefulness could be a sign that the person has made a decision to end their life
• Withdrawal – Choosing to be alone and avoiding friends or social activities also are possible symptoms of depression, a leading cause of suicide. This includes the loss of interest or pleasure in activities the person previously enjoyed
• Changes in personality and/or appearance – A person who is considering suicide might exhibit a change in attitude or behaviour, such as speaking or moving with unusual speed or slowness. In addition, the person might suddenly become less concerned about their personal appearance.
• Dangerous or self injurious behaviour – Potentially dangerous behaviour, such as reckless driving, engaging in unsafe sex, and increased use of drugs and/or alcohol might indicate that the person no longer values their life
• Recent trauma or life crisis – A major life crises might trigger a suicide attempt. Crises include the death of a loved one or pet, divorce or break-up of a relationship, diagnosis of a major illness, loss of a job, or serious financial problems
• Making preparations – Often, a person considering suicide will begin to put their personal business in order. This might include visiting friends and family members, giving away personal possessions, making a will, and cleaning up their room or home. Some people will write a note before committing suicide. Some may buy preparation means like poison or rope
• Threatening or talking about suicide – From 50% to 75% of those considering suicide will give someone like a friend, relative or colleague, a warning sign. However, not everyone who is considering suicide will say so, and not everyone who threatens suicide will follow through with it.

Treat every threat of suicide seriously and take decisive action.