Sitting With Tragedy: A Story of Loss, Reflection, and a Challenge to Choose Life

This week, I sat with a team grieving the loss of a co-worker who had died by suicide. The room was filled with grief, confusion, and a sea of questions: What did we miss? Could we have done more? Their memories of the colleague—the laughter, the kindness, the moments they shared—were in stark contrast to the tragic way this life had ended. It’s a moment no team is ever truly prepared for, yet it’s becoming far too common.

Suicide remains the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., with over 48,000 lives lost annually. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death among individuals aged 10-34 and the second leading cause of death for veterans under 45. For workplaces, the rising tide of anxiety, depression, and stress is overwhelming. $1 trillion is lost to productivity every year due to mental health struggles. But this is about more than numbers—these are our family members, neighbors, teammates, and friends.

But here’s the part that often goes unnoticed: bullying and harassment in the workplace can be a significant contributor to mental health issues. Studies show that 30% of employees report experiencing workplace bullying at some point in their careers. For someone already dealing with anxiety or depression, unchecked bullying or harassment can feel like a final straw. When left unaddressed, these toxic behaviors don’t just impact morale—they can push individuals to the edge.

In this room, I didn’t just hear sorrow; I heard guilt and confusion. Here’s the challenge: not “What did we do wrong?” but “How can we make sure no one else suffers in silence?” How do we honor the life of this beautiful person? How can we make our workplaces places where people feel supported long before they reach their breaking point? How do we ensure no one suffers in silence?

Here are ideas on how we can help prevent suicide in the workplace:

• Free Mental Health Support for Employees and Their Families Mental health support should be accessible without barriers. Providing free, no-cost mental health resources for employees and their families is one of the most direct ways to make a difference. Make sure employees know they can reach out without fear of cost or stigma and that support is available both for them and their loved ones.
• Create Healthy Organizational Policies and Culture Build a company culture where mental health isn’t just a talking point but a priority woven into everyday operations. This includes creating anti-bullying policies, promoting work-life balance, and having clear processes for dealing with toxic behavior. Organizations with open communication and strong support systems are better equipped to catch early signs of distress.
• Support Resilience Through Education Programs Education is key. Offer regular workshops or seminars that educate employees on mental health, stress management, and resilience-building techniques. Empower employees to better understand mental health issues, recognize signs of distress in themselves and others, and seek help early.
• Gatekeeper Training—teaching managers and HR professionals how to recognize the signs of someone at risk for suicide—is essential. Equip leaders with the tools to intervene effectively, offering support, guidance, and access to mental health resources.
• Promote Healthy Peer Norms Encourage a peer-support culture where employees look out for one another. Promoting positive, healthy peer norms is important where checking in on a colleague, discussing mental health, or lending a listening ear becomes normalized. Studies show that strong peer networks can help reduce the risks of isolation and depression in the workplace.
• Create Post-Crisis Support Programs If a tragedy does occur, ensure that the organization responds quickly with post-crisis support. Grief counseling, open discussions, and resources for dealing with loss are critical to helping teams process what has happened and begin to heal together.

The Real Challenge

We can’t always know what’s happening in someone’s life, but we can build workplaces where people feel safe, seen, and supported. The challenge isn’t just, What did we miss? It’s, How can we help, right now?

Together, we can create environments that celebrate life, offer real support, and ensure that people know they are never alone in their struggles. Choose life, choose support, and choose to act before it’s too late.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text HOME to 741741 for support.

#SuicidePrevention #MentalHealthAwareness #WorkplaceWellness #ChooseLife #Resilience #EmployeeSupport