We Need To Talk About Suicide

As a pop culture junkie and lover of fashion and food, I was heartbroken to learn the world lost two icons this week - Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, both to suicide. I remember fondly remember my first Kate Spade purse (I still love them!) and watching every single episode of Bourdain's No Reservations and devouring Kitchen Confidential - both the book, and the critically panned series (which I loved.) On the surface, they appeared to have everything - fame, fortune, family. But, mental illness cuts across all genders, ages, and socioeconomic status. (We may not know the exact situation that led to the suicides of Spade and Bourdain at this time, but based on media reports, mental health issues have been mentioned.)

According to the CDC, "In 2016, nearly 45,000 Americans age 10 or older died by suicide. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death and is one of just three leading causes that are on the rise."

We don't talk about mental illness - or suicide - enough in the workplace. Mental illness has an unfortunate stigma. It's a disease. Period. We should talk about it like any other disease. But we don't. This needs to change. Those of you who are struggling or have struggled with mental illness and are brave enough to talk about it, please do. You will help others. Those of you who have workplace strategies for supporting your employees, please share them. As HR professionals, we support our employees and our companies, and we need to do more.

We are fortunate at my company to have a robust Employee Assistance Program. But, we don't do enough. We can highlight mental health issues. We can train our managers to recognize signs of someone needing help. We can post this hotline number in our locations.

I don't have the answers. But this week reminded me I need to do more to find them. Here are a few resources specific to the workplace that I am going to check out, and I hope you do as well. And please share this information: National Suicide Prevention Hotline number (1-800-273-8255) or send a text to 741741.