Content warning: This episode contains open discussion of suicide, suicidal ideation, and domestic abuse. If you are affected by any of the topics covered, support is available. Samaritans can be reached any time on 116 123, free of charge, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Some conversations feel too big, too risky, or too far outside a manager’s remit to have. In part two of her conversation with Andrea Newton, founder of Confident Conversations and a specialist in suicide prevention, domestic abuse, and mental health in the workplace, Anna moves into the territory most managers avoid entirely.
Andrea begins by tackling one of the most persistent myths in mental health: that if someone tells you they are thinking about ending their life, it means they are not serious. Not true, she says plainly, and the evidence backs her up. More than 80% of people experiencing suicidal thoughts will signal it to someone, but rarely in explicit terms. A manager who knows what to listen for, and feels confident enough to ask directly, can make a genuine difference.
She also challenges the assumption that suicide is always a mental health issue requiring a clinical solution. Around half of deaths by suicide involve people who are not mentally ill but are simply overwhelmed by circumstances: debt, housing, relationship breakdown, loss. Andrea shares a powerful real example of someone whose situation was transformed not by a prescription or a therapy referral, but by an appointment at the Citizens Advice Bureau.
The conversation moves into domestic abuse, where Andrea makes the case that it rarely presents with visible signs. Coercive control, financial restriction, unexplained anxiety, and an inability to stay late or attend social events are all signals that a manager who knows their people might notice. She signposts the organisation EIDAS for employers looking to build policy and awareness in this area.
Throughout, Andrea’s message is consistent: your job is not to become the help. It is to help people get the help they need. Staying curious, listening well, and knowing where to signpost is enough. Taking on the role of primary support is not just unhelpful. It is a risk to the manager as much as to the individual.
This is part two of Anna’s conversation with Andrea Newton. Find out more about Andrea’s training, speaking, and dual risk work at confidentconversations.co.uk
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Samaritans: 116 123 (free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week)
Papyrus (support for young people and those concerned about them): 0800 068 4141
EIDAS (employers and domestic abuse): eidas.org.uk
Connect with Anna
Got a question or a topic you’d like covered on the podcast? Anna would love to hear from you.
Find her on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok, or visit The People Expert to find out more about her work supporting line managers and HR professionals.
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annathomas-hr
Instagram: instagram.com/practicalmanager
TikTok: tiktok.com/@practicalpeoplemanager
The People Expert: thepeopleexpert.co.uk
