New research links disabling workplace injuries and illnesses to higher risk of suicide

New Research Links Disabling Workplace Injuries and Illnesses to Higher Risk of Suicide

Researchers from Monash University have found that people who are away from work for long periods due to a work-related injury or illness face a substantially higher risk of suicide or self-harm. A workplace injury significantly raises this risk, according to the study, particularly when absence extends over months or years.

The researchers compared results from 47 studies across 16 countries and found that suicide risk was higher among employees with workers compensation claims, those on long-term sick leave, and those receiving disability payments. Occupationally injured workers have a measurably greater risk of self-harm compared with the general workforce, the analysis showed.

What the Study Found

Lead researcher Professor Alex Collie said, "We found consistent evidence of a link between being off work sick or injured and later suicide." He added, "We see this link in many countries and in people with different types of health conditions."

This disease study reinforces what many workplace health and safety professionals have suspected for some time — that injury/illness absence face higher risk outcomes that extend well beyond physical recovery. A person's risk of suicide climbs when workplace injury or illness disrupts income, identity, and social connection.

Why This Matters for Workplace Safety Policy

For safety professionals in construction, manufacturing, and healthcare, this research underscores the need to treat return-to-work planning as a core safety and mental health issue, not just a compliance formality. Robust policy around injury management should factor in psychological wellbeing alongside physical rehabilitation.

Employers who invest in early intervention, case management, and ongoing support for injured workers can help reduce this increased risk. Strengthening safety systems to prevent injury in the first place remains the most effective long-term strategy, but organisations also need policy frameworks that support workers once an injury has occurred.

• Prioritise early, supportive contact with injured or ill employees
• Ensure workers compensation processes minimise added stress and harm
• Integrate mental health checks into long-term injury and illness case management
• Train managers to recognise warning signs during extended leave

Organisations reviewing their own return-to-work and workplace harassment and conflict policy frameworks may find this research a useful prompt to strengthen support structures for employees recovering from work-related injuries.

Related Reading and Resources

For safety teams looking to reduce injury rates before they contribute to long-term absence, our workplace ergonomics resource on preventing injuries in logistics offers practical guidance. Fatigue is another contributing factor worth monitoring, and our overview of the new model Code of Practice on addressing workplace fatigue risk outlines recent regulatory changes, supported by a practical fatigue risk assessment form for workplace use.

Certain sectors carry elevated exposure to serious injury; our news article on research showing older farmers face high risk of fatal workplace injuries explores one such example in detail. Teams managing site risks may also benefit from a workplace traffic management risk assessment form to reduce related injury exposure.

Safety professionals wanting to stay current on evolving standards and health and safety news can explore our Workplace Health and Safety Show coverage, and those operating across the Tasman can review our dedicated New Zealand resources for jurisdiction-specific guidance.

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