Mental health is a top priority for every company. When it comes to prevention, the issue of suicide is complex. To understand it clearly, it is important to remember that five people commit suicide every day in Belgium. Thomas Thirion, managing director of the mental health centre Un pass dans l’impasse, reflects on this social and business reality: ‘It is even the leading cause of death among 10-54 year olds, far exceeding deaths from traffic accidents or cancer.’
Given the age mentioned in public health data, the impact on the business world is real. ‘This aspect is all the more significant given that for every suicide, between 15 and 20 suicide attempts are recorded. A silent tidal wave that gives us a better understanding of the psychological distress in our society.’
Suicide affects all sections of the population: ‘The suicide rate among men is almost three times higher than that for women. However, there are more suicide attempts among women, particularly teenage girls.’
As part of suicide prevention in the corporate world, Beci can refer people in psychological distress to Un pass dans l'impasse, which, since July 2020, has also been offering psychological support specifically for French-speaking self-employed people and entrepreneurs. This service provides them with a free helpline (0800/300.25) and support sessions that are affordable and accessible. According to the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (NIHDI), between 2016 and 2021, cases of depression lasting more than a year among self-employed people jumped by 67%, while burnout increased by 47%. ‘One self-employed person commits suicide every three days in Belgium,’ laments Thomas Thirion.
Support in four sessions
An entrepreneur in distress and intense suffering may sometimes have suicidal thoughts. 'We have two different areas of focus and two different care pathways. On the one hand, we listen to and support entrepreneurs in difficulty (burnout, grief, temporary difficulties, etc.). Support in four sessions allows for a rapid and supervised response. On the other hand, if the entrepreneur mentions dark thoughts, specific and longer-term support is put in place within our services.'
He draws attention to one particular point: 'Very few entrepreneurs will admit to being at rock bottom and having suicidal thoughts. To achieve such a level of openness, they need to feel comfortable speaking freely in a trusting relationship within a care pathway that can last as long as it takes to manage the crisis and support the person.'
Finding solutions
The reality in the field often catches up with entrepreneurs: '50% of entrepreneurs who come to us are experiencing financial difficulties. We have 12 consultation centres across Wallonia and Brussels, where we offer affordable services to everyone. We also offer free social consultations. The aim is to find solutions.‘ The association's network of sentinels (you can also become a sentinel) also provides real added value: ’We have a network of sentinels specialising in suicide prevention and a network of sentinels in direct contact.
This system allows us to offer proactive help: we receive almost one alert per day. We also tell relatives not to hesitate to call us. 86% of alerts result in a consultation.'
Preventive self-assessment
Mathieu Seron, independent coach and consultant for entrepreneurs, and Michel Kaisin, health and safety advisor, have come up with another project: 'The 7 Jours Santé workshops use a self-assessment test to evaluate participants' physical and mental health, with a view to ensuring business continuity.
Using various tools, we assess work organisation and time management, which is a constant challenge. Socio-economic diagnosis is a voluntary process that allows us to anticipate changes that can lead to “mental overload” if not addressed preventively."
They say it without mincing words: ‘Health prevention is the Achilles heel of business leaders.’
According to the research report on small businesses in Brussels, conducted by Céline Mahieu and Isabelle Godin, 20% sleep less than 6 hours a night and 20% show early signs of burnout. Their approach is comprehensive, covering nutrition, well-being, and more. They organise webinars on various topics (recognising the risks to protect your health and avoid overwork, taking your time to save time, learning to manage stress by freeing yourself from your emotions, etc.). The workshops help participants to anticipate problems: emotional intelligence, the stress thermometer, a simple visual tool for self-help, etc.
'Our online diagnostic tool (diagnostic.7jsante.be) is an AI-enhanced self-coaching tool. The AI acts as a complement to identify areas for improvement and provide initial tools (time management, stress management, etc.).
This is complemented by human coaching to enable entrepreneurs to go further. We emphasise that our tool is designed to guide entrepreneurs towards appropriate professional support, whether from psychologists, coaches, doctors, lawyers or financial advisors.'
This tool is also important in the context of suicide prevention: 'A person does not necessarily start having suicidal thoughts overnight. It is often a chain of events. Our survey can defuse situations that are becoming more complex. It is also very important to let those around them know that there are tools and support available for their entrepreneurs.
Family and friends should not hesitate to share these tools with their entrepreneur loved ones, who may not always be receptive.'
Group management is also available: ‘Companies that wish to do so can contact us for a more comprehensive overview with their management committee or senior managers in order to provide more comprehensive support.’
If you have any questions when your business is experiencing difficulties, please contact the CeD Relance here.