TORONTO (NEWS1130) – It is an issue that is still something of a taboo topic in many workplaces.

A new report finds suicide is leading cause of death among younger employees. That is especially true among men.

For those up to the age of 45, it is the second most common cause of death after accidents.

More men middle-aged and younger kill themselves than die of cancer, heart disease, homicide, HIV, or diabetes.

Peter Shawn Taylor with Canadian Business says it’s about time workplaces treated it more seriously.

“Cancer and heart disease are very much diseases of age…but suicide is a killer of young men and deserves attention for that reason as well,” Taylor explains.

It’s not just young men either. Even among younger women, suicide is a top three cause of death.

Taylor points out managers seem to place greater emphasis on more mundane maladies like carpal tunnel syndrome than dealing with mental illness.

“All we need to do is reallocate some of the funds and some of the attention and effort that goes into those sorts of things put it to where it could really do the most good.”

Taylor says if companies are concerned about worker-to-retiree ratios as well as future prospects for pension plans, suicide is an issue they should start caring about.