Work can be a powerful source of purpose and protection for people’s wellbeing, yet working conditions can also contribute to suicide risk. Research shows that factors such as unmanageable workloads, bullying, job insecurity, chronic stress, harassment, and exposure to trauma are linked to suicide ideation, attempts, and death. Despite this growing evidence, work-related suicides often remain unrecognised, unrecorded, and unaddressed. In this open letter, international researchers and experts in suicide prevention call on public health authorities, workplace regulators, employers, trade unions, and professional associations to take urgent and coordinated action to prevent suicide linked to work.
“As international researchers and experts in the field of suicide prevention, we are calling on public health authorities, workplace health and safety regulators, trade unions, employers, suicide prevention associations, and other stakeholders to take urgent action to recognise, investigate and prevent work-related suicides”.
Signed on behalf of the IASP Special Interest Group on Suicide and the Workplace by the Chairs:
Dr Sally Spencer-Thomas and Jorgen Gullestrup
Endorsed by the IASP Workplace Special Interest Group Taskforce members:
| Dr Kayla Follner | West Virginia University, United States | |
| Sarah Waters | Professor, University of Leeds, UK | |
| Sue Murray | Zero Suicide Institute of Australasia, Australia | |
| Nick Thompson | MATES in Construction, Australia | |
| Chris Caulkins | Free Range Thinker, Caulkins Consulting LLC, USA | |
| Christine Gent | A/Professor, Université de Montréal, Canada | |
| Carmen Lai | HKJC Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. | |
| Gabriella Malafaia | Psychologist | |
| Dr Kylie King | Monash University, Australia | |
| Tania King | A/Professor, University of Melbourne, Australia | |
| Sarah Gaer | MA, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Antioch University, USA | |
| Simon Hatcher | Professor, University of Ottawa, Canada | |
| Dolores Angela Castelli Dransart | HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, School of Social Work | |
| Steven Bittle | Professor, University of Ottawa, Canada | |
| Sebastian Ison-Jacques | Birmingham City University, UK. | |
| James Hill | Energy Queensland, Australia | |
Anthony D LaMontagne | Professor of Work, Health & Wellbeing at Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia | |
