Recently, I was personally affected by suicide when a neighbor shot himself. (Fortunately, we were on vacation). So perhaps that’s why this article at MSNBC.com was so impactful.
Workplace suicides are surging since December 2008 – not only in China (which was well publicized) but in the United States as well. The US number could be as high as a 75% increase in 2009 from the previous year.
Richard Shadick, director of Pace University’s Counseling Center, an adjunct professor of psychology and a suicide expert, notes some warning signs to watch for:
- Persistent depression or sadness that lasts for long periods of time and impairs ability to function at work or in relationships.
- Verbal altercations at work or home.
- Excessive drinking.
Workplace violence doesn’t go away. And it’s clearly a concern for employers. An article I wrote for this blog 2 1/2 years ago remains the 3rd most visited page in our history.
Pay attention to this – and make sure your employees are aware of warning signs and feel comfortable reporting those signs to management.
