THSJ Highlights Work Stress and Suicide Risks During National Suicide Prevention Month

Introduction

Workplaces are generally considered to be places where money is earned to meet our life’s wants and needs. It is also perceived to be a place of growth, fulfillment, productivity, and a sense of self-worth. Suicide and suicidal thoughts occasioned by workplace or occupational stress are a daily challenge that many workers are battling. Professions and occupations meant to ease our life burdens are a reason why many workers may want to end it all.

As the world marks Suicide Awareness Month this September, The High Street Journal is putting the spotlight on how work stress has become a silent killer and how the role of co-workers and employers could be of help in mitigating this menace.

Suicide at Glance

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines suicide as an act of deliberately killing oneself. There are numerous risk factors which include mental disorders, depression, and contraction of diseases such as HIV and cancers among others.

The Statistics on suicide globally are jaw-dropping. Let’s take a look at some interesting facts about the menace;

• According to WHO, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death globally killing more people than the popular and scary diseases we know.
• Is it estimated that close to 1 million people die by suicide annually.
• Men are twice at risk of committing suicide than women
• More than half (about 60%) of suicide deaths occur before the age of 50 indicating the prevalence among the working class.
• Contrary to the assertion that suicide is prevalent in developed countries, WHO data reveals that 86% of suicide deaths occur in low and middle-income countries.
• A person who has attempted suicide is more likely to die by suicide.
• Persons experiencing conflict, disaster, violence, abuse, loss, and a sense of isolation are highly at risk of attempting suicide.

The Work Stress-Suicide Link

Any emotional, physical, and mental strain stemming from issues relating to a job that overwhelms the ability of the worker to contain can be termed work stress. When the work environment becomes demanding exceeding the capacity of the worker, it leads to frustrations, anxiety, or exhaustion. If these work stressors prolong, suicidal thoughts set in. These work stressors include heavy or demanding workloads, work-life imbalance, job insecurity, poor working conditions, lack of support, organizational injustice, discomfort or toxic work environment, etc.

Numerous empirical studies have proven that these stressors are usually linked to suicidal thoughts/ideation or suicidal attempts.

Kim, et al., (2020) in a study to identify the association between work stress and the development of suicidal thoughts among Korean workers found that work stressors like high job demands, and lack of rewards lead to the development of suicidal ideation in men. Organizational injustice was found to be the main cause of suicidal thoughts for middle-aged and older adult workers while female workers were more likely to contemplate suicide based on organizational injustice and an uncomfortable work climate.

A latest study by LaMontagne, et al., (2024) on work and work-related suicides reveals that work stressors contribute to 10% – 13% of suicide deaths. Specific data quoted by this study on work-related suicides across the world include the following;

• The Japanese National Police Report reveals that there were 24,025 suicide deaths in 2015. After an investigation of the reasons for the cause of death of 75% of the total cases, it emerged that 12% were work-related.
• In 2012, there were 642 work-related suicide deaths in Australia representing 17% of all suicide deaths.
• A report on the analysis of death certificates and investigations documents of close to 90,000 suicides across 35 states in the US between 2013 and 2017 found that 13.5% of all the suicides were work-related.
• A recent New Zealand study over a 4-year period revealed that a total of 1678 suicide cases were closely related to work stressors.

Suicide in Ghana’s Context

The menace of suicide is not alien to Ghana. According to WHO, Ghana records an average of 1500 documented suicide cases every year. Guess what? WHO believes for every 1 reported case of suicide, there are a whopping 4 unreported cases. With this assertion, real suicide cases experienced annually in Ghana are estimated around 6000.

However, the data from the Mental Health Authority of Ghana is moderate relative to WHO’s assertion. For instance, the latest data on suicide for the first half of 2024 as published by the Authority reveals that 81 lives were lost to suicide while there were more than 500 attempted cases.

In 2023, there were 48 completed suicide cases with 594 total attempts indicating a significant increase in suicide deaths over the period. An interesting trend in the reported suicide cases in Ghana is the prevalence among police officers. Between 2015 and 2021, 69 police officers have lost their lives through suicides.

Effects of Work-Related Suicide

Every suicide death irrespective of the cause or the underlying reasons has dire repercussions. However, considering the focus of this article on work-related suicides, the effects will be tailored in line with the objectives of the piece.

Let’s take a look at some impacts of work stress-related suicides on employees;

Prevalent and overwhelming work stress leading to suicides can result in mental health crises among employees. Experts assert that the mental health crisis leads to rising anxiety, depression, and burnout.

Moreover, employees are at risk of trauma as a consequence of work-related stress suicides. The loss of an immediate coworker, colleague, or friend typically results in severe emotional trauma for surviving employees.

In addition, a corollary of the above impacts is decreased morale and motivation. Employees facing trauma and mental health issues may not be able to work at their optimum as a result of sadness and guilt. In a nutshell, efficiency and productivity are negatively impacted.

Businesses are not left out as far as the impact of this menace is concerned.

Business reputation and image are negatively affected as a result of work stress-related suicides. Such businesses are considered highly toxic and environmentally unfriendly denting its public image leading to low patronage.

Moreover, the menace has the potential to lead to absenteeism and turnover. With the loss of a colleague causing pain and trauma, employees may need time to grieve the loss and heal from the pain and trauma. There is also the possibility of high turnover as some employees may decide to seek different opportunities in less stressful environments.

In addition, experts have indicated that work stress and its accompanied suicides lead to a significant dip in productivity. Workers become demotivated, traumatized, and disengaged leading to below-average performance.

There is also the possibility of a strained employee-management relationship. Workers might feel the company’s policies and practices are not in their best interest.

What can be done to address the situation?

There is a need for collective efforts from employees, employers, and the government to address the menace. The following are some recommendations to mitigate work stress issues that lead to suicide attempts.

1. Promotion of a healthy work environment: Employers should prioritize work-life balance with reasonable workloads. Through the promotion of working smart innovations, work overloads leading to unrealistic and excessive tasks could be managed. Moreover, employers must ensure that workers take their regular breaks and vacations.
2. Workplace mental health support policies: Businesses as part of employee benefits should provide access to counseling services and regular mental health checkups.
3. Open lines of communication and support networks: Employees and employers must nurture open communication lines both horizontally and vertically. Regular check-ins and open conversations about workloads, well-being, and challenges must be prioritized. In addition, anonymous feedback mechanisms must be instituted to allow members who may not feel okay to openly speak about their challenges to voice out their concerns.
4. Safe and positive work culture: Managers must institute mechanisms that frown on workplace bullying, harassment of all forms, and unrealistic demands. Inclusivity respective of gender, race, and role must be prioritized with proper recognition and appreciation systems.
5. Post-crisis support services: Instead of victimizing and pointing accusing fingers, employees who have attempted suicide must be given all the support needed. Open discussions, grief counseling and emotional support must be offered to the victim to ensure reintegration and healing.
6. Governmental policy interventions: The ultimate protector of citizens is the state hence the government must ensure businesses comply with policies that ensure the emotional and physical safety of all employees. Periodic audits and stricter sanctions must be meted out to organizations found jeopardizing the mental health of employees.

Where to find help?

Individuals in Ghana experiencing challenges can contact the following institutions with these contacts for help:

1. Accra Psychiatric Hospital – +233 (0) 302-221920 [https://accrapsychiatrichospital.org/new/ ]
2. Pantang Psychiatric Hospital – 055 735 4021
3. Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital – +233 3321 93715 [https://ankafulpsychiatrichospital.org/ ]
4. Mental Health Authority Ghana – 0800678678 [https://mha-ghana.com/ ]
5. BasicNeeds Ghana – +233 244 572 733                           [https://basicneedsghana.org/ ]
6. Healthline Ghana – 112
7. Samaritans – 116 /123 [https://www.samaritans.org/ ]
8. MindFreedom Ghana – 0302774261/+233277421207 [https://mindfreedomghana.org/ ]

This piece ends with a quote by the Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health Authority of Ghana, Dr. Appau Pinamang which reads “Let us move from silence to open dialogue, from stigma to understanding, and from despair to hope. Every conversation we have and every hand we extend in support devoid of judgment and reproach, brings us closer to a Ghana where suicide is no longer a silent crisis.”

It is an undeniable reality that one way or the other there is some level of stress associated with work. However, it does not have to be a silent killer. Work colleagues, employers, family and friends have a very critical role to play to nib this menace in the bud. As we mark Suicide Awareness Month this September, the focus is that no job should be a reason for a person to contemplate taking his or her life.