Following the death of his friend and colleague, a critical care nurse becomes inspired to end the stigma against mental health help-seeking in healthcare workers, becoming a leader in suicide prevention efforts in the healthcare workforce.
“Everyone knows I’m struggling”: The Death of Emergency Room Physician, the Mental Health Crisis of the Healthcare Industry and a Call to Action for Systemic Change – The Story of Lorna Breen, MD
Due to a combined lack of crisis preparation by a hospital administration, a “suck it up” culture among hospital medical staff, when a time of relentless exposure to trauma provoked a mental health crisis for an emergency physician, her fear of being stigmatized ended in suicide. Since then, a movement has evolved to remove systemic and discriminating barriers to mental health help-seeking among healthcare workers and to create healthcare workplace environments that promote a holistic approach to well-being.
Zero Suicide Global Summit Highlights and Insights on the Healthcare System and Suicide Prevention
Last month I attended the Zero Suicide Global Summit in Liverpool, England with 110 global attendees from 22 countries and all continents (except Antarctica). The event is part of an international movement to transform healthcare systems and to aspire to “zero suicides.”
INTRODUCTION America’s Healthcare Workforce in Crisis: Integrating Zero Suicide Framework with HOPE Certification to Support Healthcare Workforce Wellbeing
The healthcare workforce plays a critical role in saving lives by providing essential suicide screening and treatment. Ironically, healthcare workers themselves face significant mental health challenges and suicide risks as the frontline to tragedy. This is due in part to their own collective nature which compels them to just “suck it up” and hide their suffering, and in part due to a culture that tacitly condones this code of silence, often penalizing them for breaking it.
Overcoming Loneliness: Social Connections at Work Can Be a Beacon of Hope Against Suicide
Perhaps by now, you have heard the statistic that people who lack meaningful social connections are at the same level of risk for premature death as those who smoke 15 cigarettes daily. Loneliness also was associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide. In fact, over 100 years of research indicate that social isolation is the most reliable predictor of suicidal ideation, attempts, and lethal suicidal behavior across a variety of demographics and clinical cohorts.
Lived/Living Experience Community -- You Are Invited to Share Your Ideas at the Listening Session on July 26th at 8PM ET
The University of Rochester Center of Excellence and SafeSide Prevention are exploring the potential and feasibility of implementing Community-Led Safe Spaces…(as) an alternative to conventional supports like emergency departments and crisis stabilization units for individuals experiencing a suicidal crisis.
We are seeking your input and ideas around this initiative at an upcoming listening session…
6 Tips to Improve Your Heart Rate Variability (HRV), Vagal Tone, and Stress Management
Have you ever noticed how your heart rate changes when you're stressed or relaxed? Your heart rate is not constant but fluctuates slightly. This natural variability in heart rate is known as Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and is an essential indicator of our overall well-being. In recent years, researchers have discovered a strong connection between HRV, vagal tone, and stress management.
National Suicide Prevention Week 2022: Creating Hope Through Action
Starting September 4, individuals and organizations across the U.S. will engage in National Suicide Prevention Week in the lead-up to World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10. But suicide prevention doesn't matter for one day or week out of the year. Rather, it's a yearlong effort that requires patience, commitment, and—most of all—hope.
The 988 Launch – How are We Considering the Needs of Historically Marginalized Communities?
About 12 million adults seriously consider suicide each year. For those ages 10 to 34, suicide is the second most common cause of death. Substance use challenges, addictive behaviors, trauma and complicated grief often lead to tremendous despair and disruption for individuals, families and communities.
Recognizing these and other statistics, Congress passed the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act in 2020. The bill established means for a new, federally and state-funded network of suicide prevention centers that Americans could call with a 3-digit code: 988.
Now—after years of careful planning—the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline launches nationwide on July 16, 2022.
Guest panelists from several areas of mental health advocacy joined Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas on June 23, 2022 for an #ElevateTheConvo Twitter chat about the initiative.
6 Tools to Mitigate Burnout – Individual and Organizational Solutions
Burnout plagues workers, parents, students, and countless others. According to SHRM[1], in 2021 47.8 million workers quit their jobs, making the monthly average almost four million and the highest resignation rate on record. Fortune[2] reported that for 30% of workers left behind getting work done is a significant challenge, resulting many feeling decreasing loyalty as everyone fights for the war for talent.
Many speculate that this great churn in labor is the result of crippling burnout.
Denver-based Business, Nonprofit and Musicians Partner to put Mental Health in the Spotlight
There is perhaps no better way to build a community around difficult challenges and loss than to bring people together to let them know that they are not alone, at least that is the hope that Dazzle owner Donald Rossa and United Survivor’s Board President, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas are operating under for Monday night's special fundraiser.
More Than Tired: Understanding Burnout
11 Tips to Get Ready for National Suicide Prevention Week/World Suicide Prevention Day
This year, for World Suicide Prevention Day, the theme is “Creating Hope through Action.” For too long we’ve been stuck in “awareness raising” — a necessary but not sufficient condition for change.
It’s time to take action. Here are 10 tips for an impactful National Suicide Prevention Week (September 5-11)/World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10th) - action steps you can take with you to impact your community all year long.
Six Tips for Coping with the Holiday Blues
As 2020 comes to a close (thank goodness), many of us will reflect on the suffering and loss we’ve endured. Some will have lost loved ones; others will not be able to gather together. Still, others will poignantly feel the missed milestones of the year. Both metaphorically and actually, most of us will feel the empty seat at our holiday table.
The Long Haul -- COVID-19, Prolonged Toxic Stress & Mental Health at Work: The Bad News, the Good News & 10 Action Steps Employers Can Take that Make a Difference
As we approach 2021, we are still adjusting to the many new ways the COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting just about every aspect of our lives. Many are asking -- How has COVID-19 impacted workplace wellbeing? Are we facing a “perfect storm” of risk factors for suicide or are there aspects of this crisis that give us hope in our resilient human spirit? Finally, what can workplaces do during this time to support workers and their families?
Global Construction Suicide Prevention: Website Offers Resources in 8 Languages for this High Risk Industry
Colorado. December 7, 2020. Around the world, the construction industry often has high rates of suicide. This trend is not surprising given that construction is a male-dominated field and men make up the majority of suicide deaths. Additionally, workers in construction experience many risk factors for suicide including chronic pain, sleep disruption, and high levels of stress. Today, United Suicide Survivors International in partnership with Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas launch a website highlighting global resources to help companies, professional associations, and construction leaders take steps to prevent suicide, promote well-being, and offer support to workers bereaved by suicide: https://www.constructionworkingminds.org/.
National Guidelines for Workplace Suicide Prevention: Take the Pledge
We hope you take the pledge to make suicide prevention a health and safety priority at work.
Findings from a national survey involving over 2,000 U.S. adults (conducted by The Harris Poll) released this week found the overwhelming majority (81%) believe, as a result of COVID-19, suicide prevention needs to be a national priority.
Part 3: Standing in Solidarity for Suicide Prevention -- Acting in Solidarity as a Way Forward
Cross-cutting and intersecting identities add richness to our suicide prevention movement; however, in order to accomplish solidarity, we need to be willing to create safe spaces for listening and empathy. As part of this process we must acknowledge that identity fluidity is also expected as people move through various life experiences. Across both lived experiences and academic ways of understanding suicide, we have an opportunity to learn by removing judgment and blame, and seeking compassion — especially when we have been on the opposite sides of fear.
Five Steps in Building Solidarity in the Suicide Prevention Movement…
Part 2: Standing in Solidarity for Suicide Prevention -- Healing from Communal Wounding
As the suicide prevention movement has evolved, some of our groups have experienced communal wounding. Communal wounding occurs when generations of the complex systemic oppression and culture level prejudice have been ignored in favor of surface-level activities (van der Watt, 2019). Because we were not sufficiently providing opportunities for all members of the movement to acknowledge these wounds and because many of us did not look into the mirror of our own lived experience, we continued to inflict new sources of harm.
Part 1: Standing in Solidarity for Suicide Prevention -- What Do We Mean by Solidarity and Why Does it Matter to Suicide Prevention?
Solidarity noun sol·i·dar·i·ty | \ ˌsä-lə-ˈder-ə-tē , -ˈda-rə- \. Unity (as of a group or class) that produces or is based on community of interests, objectives, and standards
-Merriam-Webster
“Any movement that hopes to sustain commitment over a period of time must make the construction of collective identity one of its most central tasks.” (Gamson, 1991, p. 27)
“Solidarity…holds great potential for understanding the transformative power…for social justice.” (Rogers & Calle Diaz, 2018, p.64)