Cyber & Employee Health
Most people think of cyber as the tools and processes we use to defend the network from attack or prevent exfiltration of information. The same technology can be applied to protect your most valued asset, your people. Every day in your organization or organizations you work with, there are employees that are considering suicide or workplace violence. Most of these behaviors can leave a trail of signs that technology can detect providing an opportunity to address bad behavior or prevent loss of life.
Major organizations have recognized the problem and are taking steps. For example, the Air Force is taking major actions to reduce suicide including the Suicide Awareness Summit last fall. This is the post from Maxwell Air Force Base - The Air Force is currently battling an enemy right here on the home front; an enemy that has claimed 78 of our Airmen during this year alone. The Air Force is experiencing an all-time high in suicide rates and Air University is doing their part to ensure this topic does not go unnoticed with their Suicide Awareness Summit, Oct. 29 – 31, 2019.
Suicide and COVID-19
What are the possible effects from COVID-19 and isolation? According to Glenn Sullivan Ph.D. from Psychology Today - If the U.S. rate jumps in the same manner it did after the 1929 stock market crash, then the national suicide rate could rise to 16.6 per 100,000. In other words, 2021 could see more than 54,000 deaths by suicide (versus about 48,000 in 2018).
The JAMA Psychiatry published an article entitled - Suicide Mortality and Coronavirus Disease 2019— A Perfect Storm? The authors Mark A. Reger, PhD Ian H. Stanley, MS, and Thomas E. Joiner, PhD wrote – “Remarkable social distancing interventions have been implemented to fundamentally reduce human contact. While these steps are expected to reduce the rate of new infections, the potential for adverse outcomes on suicide risk is high.”
How Can You Help?
If employee health is a concern to you then there are actions you can take including technology. Automated policies and profiles already exist that you can implement to help identify your employees that might be struggling and need some proactive help. Please contact ICM Cyber if you would like to have a more detailed discussion.
Greg Gorman
Federal Practice Manager
ggorman@icmcyber.com