The Recession and Workplace Suicide

During this unsteady recession, employers must have a watchful eye on their employees. There was an article featured on http://www.msnbc.msn.com/ called “Your Career: Workplace Suicides on the Rise” featured on June 1, 2010. There is an increase in workplace suicides caused by a lack of jobs and home life. The government began tracking the statistics and found that workplace suicides jumped 28% to 251 cases in 2008. The employee assistance program counselors (EAP) program who assists many employers with their staff reported that suicides and attempted suicides were their highest of about 8 million after December 2008. These counselors are receiving additional training in crisis to handle the daily suicide calls they are receiving as opposed to once every two weeks. Currently, the suicide rates are up 75% in 2009.

Workers are viewing their co-workers who are losing their jobs. As a result, they are working longer hours which results in not taking vacations or lunches. The co-workers who were friends and were involved socially are now seen as competition, not just to receive raises but to keep their jobs. Employers have to be wary about changes in the workplace which may trigger anxiety. An example was given of an employee who committed suicide after being notified that a new supervisor was being assigned after many supervisors prior were laid off. Employees are even leaving notes blaming the workplace.

Statistically, most of the injuries are caused by gunshots wounds, asphyxiations/strangulations or suffocations by middle aged white males between the ages of 45 and 54. Many are from a duel income family but they often see themselves as the “bread winner”. The workplace are adding pressure to their employees with giving them more work which sets them up for failure by not meeting deadlines. As a result, people are suffering from insomnia which is causing other health issues.

This recession has caused a lot of mixed emotions among employees and employers must be understanding. People are sensitive to what the media are reporting about the economy from job loss, employers freezing salaries or not providing monetary raises. Employers must not forget to say “thank you” for a job well done or at least provide an appreciation breakfast or a lunch. This speaks volumes and employees will feel a part of the team during this difficult time. Please watch the video link below of a woman in New York City who thought about suicide due to unemployment and facing other financial difficulties.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-GGSPVeQ0s

The Increase of Shaken Baby Syndrome and the Recession

There was an article featured in http://msnbc.com on April 30, 2010 which exposed the increase in the number of children and babies suffering with head trauma. The numbers rose to 55% when the recession began in 2007 which caused unemployment, homes in foreclosure and decrease funding for programs to assist with the prevention in child abuse. The third of the cases are children from age 1 to 6.

Shaken baby syndrome is defined as a forceful shaking of an infant or child for as little as 5 seconds causing the child’s head to rotate around the neck uncontrollably. The violent movement pitches the child’s brain back and forth within the skull, sometimes rupturing blood vessels and nerves throughout the brain tissue. Blindness, brain damage, seizures, and severe learning difficulties are common in children who survive. The fathers or boyfriends were responsible for this injury in most cases. There were budget cuts in child protection workers which is a critical need to monitor families and caregivers.

A 19 month old child in Pennsylvania was a victim of this syndrome when his mother’s boyfriend, Mr. Turner decided to bite the baby when the child bit him. Then he confessed punching the child and shaking him violently. The child had a broken arm and marks on his neck. The baby’s mother, Ms. Shirley testified that she left her child with Mr. Turner while she performed an errand. The child spent five days on a ventilator at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh before he passed away as a result of head trauma. Mr. Turner was sentenced to life in prison for the baby’s murder. The disturbing statistics revealed 63% of the children were admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit and about 16% died as a result of their injuries. Researchers reported that 90% of the children were enrolled in Medicaid programs.

Due to the recession, it’s predicted there are going to be a large number of injuries towards children. As the cuts in programs continue, the stress levels among parents are going to increase. Parents should be alert to other services that are available such as parenting and support groups which are conducted online. This is not the traditional counseling arena, but we as professionals have to begin to think outside the box to seek other resources.