Addressing Suicide in the Workplace

When a person dies by suicide, the loss affects everyone around them. Although family and friends are most obviously impacted, the effects reach much further. One group that is often overlooked is work colleagues. We spoke with Alexander Becnel, PhD, NCC, LCPC, about the impact of a death by suicide in the workplace. Becnel’s research on suicide exposure and assessment has appeared in The Professional Counselor.

How is a death by suicide likely to affect colleagues? 

There are a variety of ways in which people might respond to the news that their work colleague has died by suicide. Some people may only experience temporary shock, while others could be thrown into complex grief. Coworkers might wonder if there were signs of suicide that they missed, they might feel guilty for not sensing that their colleague was distressed, or they might even begin having suicidal thoughts themselves. The way that suicide impacts everyone in an organization will vary drastically. Workplaces will need to create an organized response that can serve these varied needs as colleagues begin the healing process. This type of response is known as suicide postvention, and it is used to help members of an organization heal during the days following a suicide.

Should someone who loses a colleague to suicide expect to feel grief only if they were very close?

We all experience grief and loss in unique ways. Each person’s brain has a different way of processing experiences and emotions, so it is nearly impossible to predict how each person in an organization will react to the news of their colleague’s death. We typically expect those that are close to be greatly impacted by suicide. However, others may experience intense emotional reactions even if they did not share a personal relationship with the colleague who has died. Sometimes, simply hearing the news of a suicide can arouse complex emotions. One example could be when a distant colleague feels guilt over not connecting with the colleague who has died. Alternatively, a distant colleague may hear the news and think about personal experiences with suicide loss or suicidal ideation. In both cases, a strong reaction could be triggered even if the colleague was not very close to the individual who has died.

Are there likely to be lasting changes in the workplace environment/dynamics?

Suicides have the potential to create unique lasting impacts in workplaces and other group settings. For example, in schools, teachers and school counselors might experience the empty desk phenomenon when a student dies by suicide. After the student has died, their assigned seat in classrooms will be empty, and teachers will need to decide how to address the vacancy. Some of the surviving students may be triggered by the sight of the empty desk, while others might see it as a memorial to their lost classmate. Modern suicide postvention guides typically suggest leaving the empty desk vacant in the immediate days following a suicide. Then, after some time has passed, teachers and school counselors can have a final commemoration of the student who has died before rearranging the classroom. Workplaces may have similar phenomena and considerations when a colleague dies by suicide. In addition to the empty desk or physical workspace, workplaces may also have an empty position that needs to be filled for organizational purposes. Organizations must think carefully about the timeline for filling these positions so that the surviving colleagues have enough time and space to grieve the loss.

Is group counseling a good option for colleagues of a victim of suicide? 

Group counseling could be a good option for the surviving colleagues of a person who has died by suicide. There are characteristics present in group work, described by Yalom and Leszcz (2020) as therapeutic factors, that could be uniquely healing for suicide loss survivors. For example, group members might experience universality, or the perspective that we are not alone in our suffering or in the problems that we face. Loss survivors who have complex emotions in the aftermath of the suicide can see that others are also having these emotions, which can help normalize their experiences. Further, group counseling can instill hope for loss survivors who may feel powerless in the days following a suicide. At the same time, some loss survivors may not be ready to participate in a group experience. Exploring personal thoughts and reactions in shared spaces may not be appropriate if a colleague is deeply impacted. For these loss survivors, individual counseling may be necessary before group work can be explored.

What resources are available for survivors of workplace suicide loss? 

Members of an organization should check to see if their workplace offers mental health care benefits such as an employee assistance program (EAP). Many organizations offer free short-term counseling services through their EAPs to all employees. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) also provides resources and opportunities for people to connect with other suicide loss survivors, including a variety of tools and personal stories. Finally, if someone finds themselves in crisis in the aftermath of a suicide, consider utilizing the new 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This 24-hour resource can be accessed via phone call, text, or even live chat through their website whenever someone needs urgent mental health services.

References

Yalom, I., & Leszcz, M. (2020). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy. Basic Books.

Alexander T. Becnel, PhD, NCC, LCPC, is an  Assistant Professor of counseling and counselor education at North Carolina State University. His research interests are suicide prevention and postvention, school counselor education, and counseling leadership issues.

**Opinions and thoughts expressed in NBCC Visions Newsletter articles belong to the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or practices of NBCC and Affiliates.