Workplace Wellbeing and Suicide Prevention: The Role of the Occupational Health Nurse
World Suicide Prevention Day is observed on September 10 each year, an initiative of the WHO and the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). The day raises awareness of the importance of mental health and promotes early recognition, open conversation, and effective support.
This theme is closely connected to FOHNEU's own work: at the 2025 FOHNEU Congress in Cork, Ireland, dedicated sessions addressed mental health in the workplace and building mentally healthy workplaces, and Dr Ruth Riley (University of Surrey) delivered a presentation specifically on distress and suicidality among women nurses, as part of the Wellcome Discovery Award research programme. World Suicide Prevention Day is a fitting opportunity to reaffirm this continuity and carry the conversation forward into everyday practice.
The workplace can be a critical setting for prevention. Since workers spend a significant part of their lives at work, Occupational Health Nurses (OHNs) are often among the first to notice warning signs of declining mental health — such as persistent fatigue, difficulty concentrating, withdrawal from colleagues, reduced performance, increased irritability, or a loss of previous enthusiasm.
What can an OHN do?
- Watch for patterns, not just isolated incidents — repeated absences, mood changes, and signs of burnout can all be important indicators.
- Create a safe, non-judgemental space for conversation, and encourage workers to reach out with confidence.
- Know the local referral pathways — GPs, mental health services, Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs), crisis lines — and be ready to offer them promptly and with empathy.
- Collaborate with management on identifying and reducing psychosocial risks, in line with the goals of EU-OSHA's "Together for Mental Health at Work" campaign (2026–2028).
FOHNEU remains committed to giving Occupational Health Nursing a voice in Europe's ongoing dialogue on mental health — continuing the conversation started at the 2025 Congress.
