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Can HRM predict mental health crises? Using HR analytics to unpack the link between employment and suicidal thoughts and behaviors

Rina Hastuti (School of Management, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia)
Andrew R. Timming (School of Management, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia)

Personnel Review

ISSN: 0048-3486

Article publication date: 10 January 2022

Issue publication date: 14 July 2023

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this research is to determine the extent to which the human resource (HR) function can screen and potentially predict suicidal employees and offer preventative mental health assistance.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from the 2019 National Survey of Drug Use and Health (N = 56,136), this paper employs multivariate binary logistic regression to model the work-related predictors of suicidal ideation, planning and attempts.

Findings

The results indicate that known periods of joblessness, the total number of sick days and absenteeism over the last 12 months are significantly associated with various suicidal outcomes while controlling for key psychosocial correlates. The results also indicate that employee assistance programs are associated with a significantly reduced likelihood of suicidal ideation. These findings are consistent with conservation of resources theory.

Research limitations/implications

This research demonstrates preliminarily that the HR function can unobtrusively detect employee mental health crises by collecting data on key predictors.

Originality/value

In the era of COVID-19, employers have a duty of care to safeguard employee mental health. To this end, the authors offer an innovative way through which the HR function can employ predictive analytics to address mental health crises before they result in tragedy.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the SI editors and two anonymous reviewers for helpful comments and suggestions in the development of this paper. The first author acknowledges support for her PhD study from the 5000 Doctors Program–Ministry of Religious Affairs, Republic of Indonesia, and UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta, Indonesia.

Citation

Hastuti, R. and Timming, A.R. (2023), "Can HRM predict mental health crises? Using HR analytics to unpack the link between employment and suicidal thoughts and behaviors", Personnel Review, Vol. 52 No. 6, pp. 1728-1746. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-05-2021-0343

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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