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James Donaldson on Mental Health – Minimizing suicide risks at work
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A recent corporate manslaughter case holds key lessons for employers, as Paul Verrico explains
by Paul Verrico
While mental health is generally better embraced in workplace conversation, ‘suicide’ remains a taboo. Yet the subject is one which all boardrooms need to openly consider, as public sentiment and a change of attitude in the criminal regime suggest that directors need to know how policies and processes intersect to meet regulatory obligations.
Never has this been more apparent than a recent corporate manslaughter case in which it was alleged that hospital staff failed to take adequate precautions in removing high-risk objects that had been flagged as risky in previous incidents – but were used in a suicide.
It is rare for suicide cases to end in criminal prosecution. With mental health deaths not RIDDOR-reportable and with the HSE under-resourced to investigate wellbeing incidents, seeing the Crown Prosecution Service aggressively prosecute for corporate manslaughter gives pause for thought.
There has been a growing recognition of the importance of mental health in the workplace, but statistics related to mental ill-health and suicide in the UK remain high: recent data from the HSE and the Labor Force Survey shows that 16.4 million working days were lost due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2023/2024. Work-related ill-health and non-fatal workplace injuries cost UK employers an estimated £51bn per year.
This financial reality underscores the importance of fostering a workplace that prioritizes its people. This year, we expect psychosocial hazards and psychological safety to continue to be a central tenet on the global safety agenda, bearing in mind it has already become a focal point for regulators and governments worldwide. The HSE’s 10-year plan – Protecting People and Places – highlights the regulator’s intention to focus on work-related ill-health, with a particular focus on ill-health caused by poor mental health and stress.
In December 2024, the HSE launched a campaign on stress and wellbeing in the workplace. HSE has a stress management standard; the British Standards Institution is currently in the process of drafting a suicide prevention standard.
Many employers will see safety risk as being on front line labor in industrial sectors, rather than back-office staff across the tertiary sectors. Back-office staff are perceived as more removed from the local tragedies of workers and members of the public being killed or seriously injured in orthodox safety accidents in factory lines and on the road.
This apparent ‘green’ safety metric can be misleading, masking underlying ‘soft’ safety issues which can be better managed to improve productivity, reduce absence and minimize the likelihood of serious harm.
Sadly, some well-intentioned employers still wait until things go awry, missing weak signal events and blaming employees for somehow bringing about their own downfall after a mental health crisis or suicide.
Large organizations manage hard safety risks through a safety management system; a structured approach which is audited to prove assurance. Psychosocial hazards are much harder to benchmark and quantify although the same principles apply.
With regards to the aforementioned corporate manslaughter case in the courts, if there is a perception of causation of the death on the part of employing or other responsible organizations, this could have a significant impact upon the way in which organizations across sectors approach health, safety and welfare.
#James Donaldson notes: Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes. Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use. Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.#http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book, #CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
Psychological safety is a crucial aspect of workplace well-being, where individuals feel secure to express their thoughts, ideas, and concerns without fear of retribution or ridicule. This concept fosters an environment of trust and mutual respect, enabling employees to collaborate more effectively and innovate without hesitation.
Suicide will remain an issue under the spotlight this year, and employers should consider how policies and processes comply with regulations and guidance (particularly where these may intersect with psychosocial hazards) and benchmark these against best practice available.
There was nothing in the Labor manifesto heralding a change in regulatory position, but if a police investigation results in the most serious offence in the corporate pantheon being charged when potentially egregious breaches are found, C-suite executives would be wise to consider how policies and processes meet public expectation.
There is already a tailwind of support for increasing organizational duties in this space. Our advice would be to ensure that anyone leading this area properly understands mental health and has appropriate competence. Risk assessments for suicide should not be carried out by those unqualified to do so.
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James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
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