Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and its effects reach far beyond families and friends. Most of the people who die by suicide are employed at the time of their death, which means the workplace is often directly touched by these tragedies.
When a coworker dies by suicide, colleagues are left with shock and grief that can linger long after the loss. Employers face disrupted teams, lowered morale, and the painful realization that warning signs may have gone unnoticed. Yet despite its close connection to working life, suicide is still too often viewed as a private matter rather than an organizational concern.
Making suicide prevention part of workplace culture changes that reality. It acknowledges the responsibility employers share in creating safe, supportive environments and offers a chance to save lives while strengthening the health of the organization as a whole.
