The British Standards Institution (BSI) has released a draft British Standard BS 30480, a new guide for employers, managers and safety and health professionals focusing on prevention, intervention, and support for people affected by suicide at work. It offers step-by-step guidance to help workplaces act confidently, compassionately, and effectively when it matters most, according to a press release by Wellity Global, a United Kingdom service delivering mental health awareness and suicide prevention programs in 40 countries.

BS 30480 is the first British Standard focused entirely on suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention in the workplace. BSI is currently collecting comments on the draft standard before adopting a final standard.

BS 30480 has no equivalent in the United States. The closest U.S. counterparts are the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention issued by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Zero Suicide framework from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. Addressing mental health and psychosocial risks more broadly is the global ISO 45003:2021 standard and NIOSH’s Total Worker Health™ program.

The BS 30480 standard outlines how to:

• Prevent suicide through strong policy and positive culture
• Support individuals who may be at risk
• Intervene safely when someone expresses suicidal thoughts
• Respond appropriately if suicide occurs in or outside the workplace
• Communicate clearly, compassionately, and responsibly
• Support the bereaved and those impacted
• Continuously monitor and improve procedures over time

BS 30480 is built on research, clinical insight, and lived experience. It reflects the input of individuals who have experienced suicidal crisis, lost someone to suicide, or supported others through it.

BS 30480 is written for all organizations, regardless of size, sector, or structure. In the private sector it applies to offices, construction sites, logistics, hospitality, call centers, retail, finance, agriculture, and freelancers or contractors.

BS 30480 encourages workplaces to:

• Include suicide prevention in mental health and wellbeing strategies
• Train managers to spot signs of distress early
• Encourage open, non-judgmental conversations.
• Promote available support services internally and externally
• Develop clear escalation routes for when someone needs help
• Learn from real experiences of those who’ve struggled or survived.

Research shows that stigma is a major barrier to people seeking help. A 2023 Mind survey found that over 60% of UK workers who struggled with suicidal thoughts did not tell their employer.

BS 30480 provides clear steps for intervention:

• Recognize signs that someone may be struggling
• Create a private, safe space for a conversation
• Listen calmly, without judgement or interruption
• Ask open questions and show genuine care
• Avoid making promises you can’t keep
• Refer to professional help and internal support channels
• Knowe when to involve trained mental health responders

The standard clearly states thar you are not expected to be a therapist. But you are expected to be prepared, present, and supportive.

If a suicide or suicide attempt occurs, BS 30480 recommends a thoughtful postvention strategy that includes:

• Timely and respectful communication with staff
• Honoring the privacy and wishes of the deceased’s family
• Giving employees space to grieve and reflect
• Providing access to counselling or peer support
• Monitoring teams for signs of distress or burnout
• Reviewing procedures and learning from the event

Here are six steps to implementing BS 30480 in your organization:

• Review current policies
 • Identify internal champions
 • Provide targeted training
 • Promote internal and external resources
 • Create communication protocols
 • Evaluate and adapt