Ben, the automotive business charity, has launched a month-long suicide prevention marketing campaign to lift consciousness and spotlight the assist it will probably provide.

As a part of the marketing campaign, new assist and assets at the moment are obtainable on Ben’s web site, in addition to new on-line coaching. The charity has additionally created a brand new part of its web site devoted to suicide prevention with data, recommendation and steerage for people liable to suicide, for these nervous about somebody and in addition for employers.

In keeping with ONS, in 2021, there have been 6,567 deaths by suicide registered within the UK, with males aged between 45-49 as having the best suicide charge in England and Wales. A complete of 126 folks die by suicide within the UK each week, with round 74% of these being male. 

The automotive business is male dominated (80% male, versus 20% female3) so there may be probably a larger danger and vulnerability to suicide than in different industries. Males usually really feel beneath stress to not present indicators of weak spot and really feel embarrassed to speak about their points, so are much less more likely to search assist when battling their psychological well being. Ben mentioned that employers subsequently have a job to play in lowering the stigma round male psychological well being and to supply related assist to stop suicide.

From findings in Ben’s survey report 2023, 1 in 3 automotive employees reported having had points managing their psychological well being, in contrast with 1 in 6 of the final UK working inhabitants.

“Typically, delight is an element and males might imagine they will deal with their issues on their very own, or they fear about being a burden to others. Males are additionally extra doubtless to reply to stress with dangerous behaviour comparable to abusing alcohol which will increase the danger of suicide by as much as eight instances,” mentioned the charity.

Ben has seen a rise in calls to its helpline for assist round suicide over current years. In 2022, Ben supported 303 people who disclosed they had been experiencing suicidal ideation or intent. Round 7 employers annually name on the charity’s Pressing Response Service after an worker has taken their very own life. 

Rachel Clift, well being & wellbeing director at Ben, mentioned: “Analysis and statistics ought to give us trigger for concern in our business, coupled with the very fact we presently have extra folks than ever requesting assist. This is the reason it’s essential to lift consciousness about lack of life by means of suicide, because it’s a troublesome matter to broach. We wish everybody in our business to know that Ben is there for them and urge folks to get in contact for assist in the event that they’re struggling or in disaster.”

Talking about Ben’s new suicide consciousness and prevention coaching, Nicola Fairley at Arnold Clark mentioned: “The suicide consciousness course from Ben was an amazing supply of data on a delicate topic for each these with no expertise of coping with these points to these with prior coaching. It gave sensible recommendation of the instruments and assist that may be utilised in these troublesome conditions.”

Along with offering assist for people, Ben additionally works with automotive business employers to supply the next coaching and providers: 

Ben will assist those that work, or have labored, within the automotive business and their household dependents. “Do not battle alone, contact our helpline: 08081 311 333 or use our webchat at www.ben.org.uk. You may also entry Ben’s out of hours textual content assist line by texting BEN to 85258,” mentioned the charity.

For extra data on Ben’s coaching and providers, e-mail bentraining@ben.org.uk.