We start by understanding your current staff exposure, risks, and the preparedness of your WHS systems. This includes consultation with leaders and staff to identify both strengths and vulnerabilities.
What We Do in the Needs Assessment
The Needs Assessment is the foundation of the Workplace Toolkit. Before designing anything, we gather detailed insights into how suicide or sudden death have already impacted your staff, what existing supports and systems are in place, and where the greatest vulnerabilities lie.
We work with you to:
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Through staff surveys, interviews, or focus groups, we collect data on the frequency, nature, and emotional / psychological impacts of exposure to suicide or sudden loss.
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What policies, procedures, reporting pathways, and supports already exist? Are there gaps in training, supervision, or mental health resources?
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How does leadership respond after critical incidents? How open is communication? What is the level of psychological safety — can staff speak up without fear?
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Absenteeism, turnover, staff complaints or feedback, debriefing practices, existing wellness or EAP (Employee Assistance Program) usage.
Why It Matters
Studies show that psychosocial job stressors — such as low job control, job insecurity, poor supervisor support, and organisational injustice — are associated with elevated risks of suicide ideation and mental health harms.
Without first understanding your baseline (staff exposure, existing policies, culture), any prevention or response framework is likely to miss critical gaps or apply generic solutions that don’t match real risk.
What You’ll Receive
After the Needs Assessment, you’ll have:
↳ A Risk & Exposure Report summarising findings (quantitative + qualitative), showing where your greatest vulnerabilities lie.
↳ A map of existing supports & policies, showing what’s working and what needs improvement.
↳ Key recommendations for priority areas.
