Employers need to be more proactive in helping workers maintain their psychological well-being, including by being more cognizant of suicide prevention strategies, a mental health summit in Grande Prairie, Alta., heard this week.Employers in sectors like agriculture, forestry and the oilpatch play an important roles in reducing suicide risk among its employees, experts told mental health summit held in Grande Prairie, Alta.
Northern Alberta has a high suicide rate compared to other regions in the province. In 2021, there were 192 confirmed suicides in the region, according to statistics compiled by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
"Some companies are doing it really well. Some people, or some companies, are just starting to have those conversations." "You are away from home and family. It's making sure that we have all the resources and support in place if you need someone to reach out to," Partington told CBC in an interview. "There are some people that thrive in a fly-in, fly-out" type of rotation for work, she said. "And there are some individuals that struggle."