Benefits @ Work: Suicide Prevention & Education

Suicide is a leading cause of death for Americans, but much like mental health in general, the topic rarely gets the attention it deserves. There is a stigma against discussing suicide and mental health in the United States that hinders meaningful conversation about the topic. Open dialogue is an important part of preventing these tragic deaths and establishing safety outlets for those in need. This HR Insights examines the rise of suicide in the U.S., provides general facts surrounding it and explains how employers can help curb this growing epidemic. Suicide is not a new issue. It has been among the top 12 leading causes of death in the U.S. since 1975, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And its position has only risen since then. Since 2000, suicide rates have increased more than 28 percent, according to the CDC. In 2015, the most recent year in the data available, there was approximately one suicide every 12 minutes—totaling 44,193 deaths that year. Beyond the human toll, the economic consequences of suicide are staggering. According to the CDC, one estimate put the economic cost at around $50 billion, while another had it near $93 billion annually. Factors like potential underreporting of suicide, total lifetime costs and per capita calculations were used in the estimates.