Responding to suicide risk: PwC
Read about how PwC took steps to ensure work is a place where people feel able to talk about suicide
Read about how PwC took steps to ensure work is a place where people feel able to talk about suicide
As part of its wider wellbeing and mental health framework PwC has developed clear support pathways for an employee to signpost someone to if they are concerned about that person’s welfare and they need expert help. They have also embedded clear practical steps in its guidance, so that an employee knows what action to take in different scenarios.
PwC is a company that firmly believes work should be a place where people feel able to talk about suicide. As Ben Higgin, head of technology and investments, says in his blog: ‘As a Mental Health Advocate at PwC and also a Samaritans listening volunteer, I know that these conversations aren’t easy; but if you want a culture that gives people permission to talk about what is going on in their life, then you have to be prepared to talk about anything – or better put, be available to listen to anything.’
‘Some of the main factors contributing to someone having suicidal thoughts may be nonwork-related but that’s not the point as it’s about the whole person,’ explains Sally Evans, PwC wellbeing lead. ‘It’s about raising awareness, fostering a culture enabling people to reach out at work and signposting to professional help.’ This doesn’t mean employees should be trained to act as counsellors, and employees are not there ‘to rescue’ someone experiencing suicide ideation: it’s about preparing people to listen if someone says they are having suicidal thoughts, and to help them access qualified support if appropriate. It’s important to remember that suicidal thoughts are relatively common and do not necessarily indicate intent. Also, talking about suicide compassionately does not increase risk, rather it lessens it.
This means setting clear parameters for what an employee’s role should – and should not – be, as well as embedding clear guidelines for what action should be taken in certain situations, including a crisis. ‘Suicide is very complex and of course it can be very hard to know if someone is having suicidal thoughts unless they tell you – but the better we get to know our colleagues, the easier it can be to spot behavioural or verbal cues that could be warning signs, and it’s always better to err on the side of caution, such as not being afraid to dial 999 if the situation warrants it,’ says Sally.
PwC’s suicide prevention work is very much part of its wider wellbeing and mental health framework. PwC partnered with Samaritans and the Lord Mayor’s Appeal to develop the Wellbeing in the Workplace online learning tool. Free to all UK workplaces, the tool brings Samaritans’ listening and wellbeing expertise into the workplace, and teaches employees the skills to look after their emotional health and look out for others, before they reach crisis point.
PwC has also helped to spearhead the ‘This Is Me’ campaign to challenge the stigma around mental health at work. Employees at PwC regularly share stories of lived mental ill health experience online, including several employees who have written about having suicidal thoughts and/or attempted suicide previously. ‘Some of the experiences are hard hitting but they have really helped to open up meaningful conversations about mental health as well as suicide,’ says Sally.
There are clear support pathways for an employee to signpost someone to if they are concerned about that person’s welfare and they need expert help. These include PwC’s employee assistance programme, which can provide direct access to psychological support for someone experiencing suicidal thoughts.
PwC has also embedded clear practical steps in its guidance, so that an employee knows what action to take in different scenarios. These are set out in three levels with clear prompts to help the employee with appropriate signposting, along with contact details. They range from having a conversation to contacting a GP or A&E for a mental health crisis. In the guidance this is set out under three headings:
In all cases the emphasis is on signposting to more expert support and further guidance emphasises the importance of keeping boundaries and not trying to ‘rescue’ ourselves.
The organisation has developed a blend of training interventions to promote good mental health and foster a culture where people are not afraid to talk about suicide and seek help, which are designed across three levels:
The range of online learning resources and apps developed with Samaritans and implemented by PwC across its 22,000-strong workforce helps employees to improve their emotional wellbeing. The tools and training also enable colleagues to recognise emotional distress in others and reach out to someone who might be struggling to cope. The company aims for 100% workforce coverage at the foundation level, aimed at improving mental health literacy. It also has its own mental health first aid training instructor to deliver more in-depth internal training to employees.
The work PwC has done, and continues to do, to promote good mental wellbeing and create a culture where people can seek help, including for suicidal thoughts, is making a real difference. ‘By breaking down the stigma and silence around suicide at work, more people will have the confidence to reach out for help – and this is why it is a workplace as well as a societal issue,’ says Sally.
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