New workplace standard for suicide support

The British Standards Institution (BSI) has published its first-ever national standard specifically dedicated to suicide in the workplace, “Suicide and the Workplace – Intervention, Prevention and Support”. 

For voluntary, community and charity organisations across Essex, this is more than just a piece of guidance: it’s an invitation to build safer, more compassionate places not only for paid staff but also for volunteers. The standard offers a practical, evidence-informed framework for organisations to address suicide awareness, plan prevention, and respond compassionately when suicide affects their staff and volunteers.  It covers spotting warning signs, having direct but sensitive conversations about suicidal thoughts, creating safety plans, and putting in place clear post-vention (support after a loss) processes. This standard is freely available, making it accessible to organisations of all sizes, including grassroots community and voluntary groups.  

Why This Is Important for the Voluntary Sector in Essex 

Suicide impacts whole teams and communities. In small charities and volunteer-led groups, a crisis can deeply affect everyone, emotionally and operationally. 

Many VCS organisations don’t have big HR teams. This new framework gives clear, practical steps that even the smallest groups can put in place. Volunteers are often on the frontline. They may be supporting distressed service users or facing difficult situations. This standard helps you protect them as well as paid staff. 

It helps normalise conversations. Embedding the guidance creates a culture where people feel able to speak up early and seek support. 

What Essex Voluntary Organisations Can Do? 

Here are practical steps that VCS organisations in Essex could take, drawing on the principles of the framework 

• Review your policies: Assess your current wellbeing, safeguarding, and health & safety policies. Do they explicitly mention suicide risk, or just “mental health”? 

• Raise awareness: Provide training in suicide awareness. The Zero Suicide Alliance (ZSA), which was closely involved in the standard offers free online training and facilitated sessions. 

• Build internal capacity: Identify people in your organisation (both staff and volunteers) who could act as mental health “champions” or first responders. Use the standard’s advice to set up a small in-house plan for how to respond if someone is in crisis. 

• Engage leadership: Get buy-in from trustees, senior managers, and team leads. The standard emphasises the role of leadership in embedding these practices.  

How the E-Portal Can Help 

At E-Portal Essex, we are here to support the voluntary sector every step of the way. Here’s how you can use the portal in this context: 

• Volunteer Management: Check out our Volunteer Management section for advice on supporting volunteers’ wellbeing, managing risk, and training.  

• Safeguarding: Our Safeguarding resources can help you think through protocols, not just for physical protection, but emotional and psychological safety. 

• Speak to our Chatbot: We’ve given our Chatbot the standard as part of its trusted knowledge base so it can help guide you with creating policies and frameworks that work for your organisation.  

To find out more and download the suicide and workplace guide visit – https://zerosuicidealliance.com/suicide-and-workplace-bsi-standard