Make a difference - a message from Sally Kirkright, CEO, AccessEAP
One of the most important questions that you can ask your employees as a manager can also be one of the hardest. R U Ok? Day evolved from a need to raise awareness around suicide and to have a conversation with someone if you are concerned for their wellbeing. These are very simple words to ask of employees, and colleagues, however often managers will tell us that they don’t feel equipped to deal with the potential response.
The statistics in Australia are very disconcerting revealing that suicide is prevalent in our community. It is estimated that 8 Australians die each day from suicide. Three quarters of these are men. Additionally, Indigenous Australians are twice as likely to die from suicide as non-Indigenous Australians. For those in employment, the highest risk of suicide is between the ages of 40-54 for men and 45-49 for women.
Whilst these figures are cause for action, understandably, managers will often described feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the perceived responsibility this brings. One key message that AccessEAP would like to convey to managers in these situations is that they are not alone. Help is available and it’s important to have someone to talk through these situations with. We offer managers professional advice by experienced clinicians via our Manager Support Hotline. Our experienced clinicians will help managers to develop a plan for supporting their employee moving forward, and depending on the urgency of the situation, this may simply include tips for having a conversation, or it may involve more direct intervention.
The following tips may help you to identify when and how to have a conversation with an employee, but also remember that every situation is different and if in doubt it’s important to always speak with a professional:
- Know Your Team
By having regular contact with your team you will be in a position to notice if there are any changes in their behaviour that could indicate that they are finding it hard to manage.
- Have a Conversation if You are Concerned
A simple conversation in a discrete and private manner will give you the option to clarify your concerns with the employee, and may be a first step to helping them find support.
- Listen
Listen to what the person is saying without interrupting. Do not make judgements or assumptions about what they have said.
- Explore Options
Find out if there is anything that could be done at work to help the employee cope better. If possible, offer some flexibility or offer some adjustments.
- Know when to Escalate
If an employee makes any indirect comment about suicide or makes a direct statement about suicide, immediately escalate to another person for advice. This may include calling us on 1800 818 728 to speak with a member of our clinical team via the Manager Support Hotline.
