How Ben is helping to reduce the tragedy of suicide

There’s a bleak statistic from the ONS: in 2021, there were 6,567 deaths by suicide registered in the UK, with males aged between 45-49 having the highest suicide rate in England and Wales. A total of 126 people die by suicide in the UK every week, with around 74% of those male.

It’s an awful thing to realise that people are losing their lives due to the pressure that life can deliver. And men are more likely to suffer.

Automotive is a male dominated industry with 80% of the workforce male compared to 20% so there is potentially a greater risk and vulnerability to suicide than in other industries.

As automotive charity Ben states men often feel under pressure to not show signs of weakness and feel embarrassed to talk about their issues, so are less likely to seek help when struggling with their mental health. Sometimes, pride is a factor and men may think they can handle their problems on their own, or they worry about being a burden to others. Men are also more likely to respond to stress with risky behaviour such as abusing alcohol which increases the risk of suicide by up to eight times.

Ben has seen an increase in calls to its helpline for support around suicide over recent years. In 2022, Ben supported 303 individuals who disclosed they were experiencing suicidal ideation or intent. Around 7 employers each year call on the charity’s Urgent Response Service after an employee has taken their own life.

Rachel Clift, Health & Wellbeing Director at Ben, said: “Research and statistics should give us cause for concern in our industry, coupled with the fact we currently have more people than ever requesting support. This is why it’s crucial to raise awareness about loss of life through suicide, as it’s a difficult topic to broach. We want everyone in our industry to know that Ben is there for them and urge people to get in touch for support if they’re struggling or in crisis.”

Employers have a role to play in reducing the stigma around male mental health and to provide relevant support to prevent suicide. From findings in Ben’s survey report 2023, 1 in 3 automotive workers reported having had issues managing their mental health, compared with 1 in 6 of the general UK working population.

It’s why Ben launched its suicide prevention campaign with new online support and training. The new section of its website is dedicated to suicide prevention with information, advice and guidance for individuals at risk of suicide, for those worried about someone and also for employers.

The site offers:

• Content and resources on the topic of suicide prevention
• Downloadable resources and leaflets for individuals and employers
• Contact details so people know where to turn to for further support
• Information about relevant training and services for employers to support their employees

“If you work, or have worked, in the automotive industry please get in touch now if you don't feel you can cope or if you’re at breaking point. You can contact our free and confidential helpline,” said Clift.

Ben is here for those who work, or have worked, in the automotive industry and their family dependents. Don't struggle alone, contact our helpline: 08081 311 333 or use our webchat at www.ben.org.uk. You can also access Ben’s out of hours text support line by texting BEN to 85258.