Suicide Prevention Month at Work: Reducing Stigma Through Storytelling

We bring our whole selves to work every day. We don't package up our personal lives and leave them at the door to be picked up after work. Sometimes we come to work upset about an argument we had with our spouse or a worry we have about a family member or a regret we have over missing a kid's field trip because of an important meeting.

We need to acknowledge that we're all just human. We have good days. And we have bad days. And we never truly know what many of our co-workers are going through outside the walls of our office. We just need to assume positive intent and lead with kindness.

Assume positive intent and lead with kindness

September marks Suicide Prevention Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness, reducing stigma, and promoting mental well-being. In the workplace, where employees may silently struggle with mental health issues, observing this month can be instrumental in creating a more supportive environment.

Creating open channels of communication about mental health is the first step. By fostering a culture of acceptance and understanding, employers can help employees feel safe discussing their concerns. Educational initiatives are crucial; workshops, webinars, and training programs can teach employees to recognize signs of distress and provide support. Managers can play a key role by learning how to identify signs of distress, engage in non-judgmental conversations, and connect employees with resources.

Mental health resources should be easily accessible. Employee assistance programs, crisis hotlines, and access to mental health professionals can provide crucial support. Promoting self-care, work-life balance, and flexible arrangements further strengthens mental health initiatives.

Celebrating success stories and creating safe spaces for employees to share their experiences fosters hope and reduces isolation. Suicide Prevention Month is an opportunity for organizations to demonstrate their commitment to employee well-being, contributing to a healthier, more compassionate workplace and society.

Celebrating success stories and creating safe spaces for employees to share their experiences fosters hope and reduces isolation.

Our Story

Six years ago today was also a Friday. My husband and I were sitting in the stands at our son's football game when a young family member called us to tell us about a scary Snapchat message she’d just seen from our daughter, who was at home. I immediately called her, “What’s going on? What did you take? How many did you take? When did you take them? How are you feeling?” I stayed on the phone with her as we quickly packed up our things and I used my husband's phone to google “Clonidine overdose.”

As we sped home to one kid, I texted another, “I’m sorry we had to leave your game early. Your sister is ok, but we have to run her to the ER. We will keep you posted. I love you!”

When we got home, I quickly got her into the car and drove to the ER. I fought to keep my voice even and not sound panicked so she didn't panic. “Sit up. Don’t fall asleep. Keep talking to me.”

At the ER, they rushed her into a room, checked her vitals, hooked her up to a heart monitor, drew a bunch of blood, and started her on an IV. She was very sleepy and they were trying to flush the drugs out of her system.

After some time, I don’t know how long, they moved her to a hospital room. Less than two weeks from her 18th birthday, but not yet an adult, so she was moved to the pediatric floor.

With suicide attempts, a nurse keeps an eye on you at all times. There was a boy in the next room that needed to be continually monitored too so a nurse sat at a small desk in the hallway between both rooms so she could watch both patients.

The next day I spent the entire day sitting on a little couch in that hospital room watching her sleep. Her heart rate kept dipping dangerously low and she couldn’t stay awake more than 10-15 minutes at a time. Nurses came in periodically to take her vitals and replace IV bags. It was a difficult situation, but the nurses were always upbeat and caring.

After a couple days in peds, her heart rate was back up and she was beginning to be much more alert. They wanted to move her again. This time to the psychiatric ward.

She didn’t want to go. She cried. She begged me not to leave her there. I literally had to peel her fingers from my arm and let go. It was heart breaking and devastating. But it’s where she needed to be.

I literally had to peel her fingers from my arm and let go.

She spent five days in the psychiatric unit. She met with counselors. She made a safety plan. And they changed her meds. They don’t want patients to continue to take meds they’ve overdosed on.

My husband and I visited her every day, often twice a day. After a couple days her brothers came to visit her too. We met with her counselor and her doctor to go over her plan and talk about how we can help her and keep her safe.

Finally, after a week in the hospital, I got to bring her home.

There are still days that are very hard for her as she continues to navigate the depths of her depression and anxiety, BUT she is doing much better. She is working and spending time with friends. And now I get to see her beautiful smile and hear her infectious laugh a whole lot more.

I am SO thankful that we got to celebrate her 18th birthday, and more. And in 12 days we’ll celebrate her 24th birthday. Today she lives on her own, is a cat mom, and is an amazing night supervisor working with at-risk youth. And most importantly, she's a big advocate for herself and her health care. She fought for her diagnosis of ADHD, which presents differently in girls than it does in boys. She's now on the right medication and able to lead a strong and healthy life.

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