By Anna Ritchie and Quentin Aker

Suicide is a public health issue that affects people across all ages, races, industries, and professions. In 2016, death by suicide was the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, claiming nearly 45,000 lives.* There were also approximately two and a half times as many deaths by suicide as there were homicides.* In Kansas, approximately one Kansan died by suicide each day, and the number of Kansas deaths by suicide rose approximately 45% since 1999.* The national average was 25.4%.* It is imperative that business and HR professionals have sound policies in place that address issues of suicide, suicide prevention, and mental health awareness. While deaths by suicide can carry significant financial, business, and legal consequences, having sound policies in place could ultimately—and most importantly—save a life.

One facet of mental health conditions that businesses need to be aware of is how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) treats those conditions.  Mental health conditions often could be covered by the original ADA.  However, amendments to the ADA in 2008 (commonly referred to as the ADAAA) that expanded the definition of “disability” clarified that the ADAAA encompassed mental health conditions. Thus, when job applicants or employees with mental health conditions meet the criteria, they may have workplace rights under the ADAAA.*

According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), discrimination complaints based upon mental health conditions are increasing. In 2016, the EEOC resolved nearly 5,000 charges of discrimination based upon mental health conditions, costing employers around $20 million.*

There are steps that every business can take to help promote mental health awareness and suicide prevention.* From working to destigmatize mental health conditions to implementing a firm-wide mental health policy, a number of useful resources exist to help facilitate these changes, and employers should strive to create a workplace atmosphere that fosters positive conversations about mental health conditions.* A great way to begin familiarizing your business with mental health policies is by visiting the Workplace Strategies for Mental Health website.  

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255, available 24 hours every day. Together, we can #bethe1to end suicide.