Work-related Suicide. An International Social Justice Analysis

Start date: 1 February 2025
End date: 31 January 2029
Funder: Wellcome Trust
Primary investigator: Professor Sarah Waters
External co-investigators: China Mills, HJL; Loïc Lerouge, Bordeaux; Steven Bittle, Ottawa

Value

£804,388

Partners and collaborators

Healing Justice London; University of Bordeaux, CNRS; University of Ottawa

Description

This project will undertake a first cross-national, multidisciplinary and qualitative study of work-related suicide in the UK, France and Canada, aiming to generate new knowledge and understanding of its complex causes and contexts. At a time of profound transformations in the global economy, work-related suicides are rising. The vast majority of suicides today occur amongst working-age adults andwork or working conditions are contributory factors in 10% to 13% of all suicides. Yet, we have limited knowledge of how and why working conditions influence individual suicides. As work-related suicides are not legally recognised or regulated in most countries worldwide, this remains a largely undocumented phenomenon. This ambitious project is underpinned by an innovative social justice perspective that examines the social and policy contexts of suicide, considering the ways in which structural conditions create a differential vulnerability to suicide in work. Bringing together suicide researchers and legal scholars, our project will: (i) identify, analyse and compare causal factors behind work-related suicide across different occupations, sectors and national contexts; (ii) address urgent issues of recognition, justice and accountability for suicidal individuals and their families; (iii) develop, through rigorous comparative analysis, evidence-based and actionable recommendations to transform suicide prevention strategies nationally and internationally.

Impact

The project aims to shape suicide prevention policies nationally and internationally.