Grief and Trauma

, ,

The Forgotten Survivors -- Co-workers Impacted by Suicide Loss: Interview with Robert & Terri Bogue | Ep 17

, ,
The Forgotten Survivors -- Co-workers Impacted by Suicide Loss: Interview with Robert & Terri Bogue | Ep 17

Many workplaces are affected by the suicide death of an employee each year, especially considering that a large number of people who die by suicide are working-age adults. Even the suicide deaths of recently terminated employees can have a significant impact on their previous workplaces. The loss of a leader within an organization can cause chaos and trauma. Moreover, suicide deaths of family members, vendors, clients, and associates can also affect employees. Unfortunately, most workplaces are not prepared to respond to such deaths. Common models of grief and bereavement support often focus on returning to work quickly rather than providing meaningful support. It is crucial for workplaces to understand grief, trauma, and suicide contagion and develop effective strategies for supporting employees in the aftermath of a suicide death.

In this interview, I speak with suicide loss survivors Robert and Terri Bogue about workplace suicide grief and trauma and survivor guilt. They share these three tips:

  • Acknowledge survivor guilt. Address suicide directly -if someone talks about wanting to die, not wanting to be here, or gives away their prized things. – That’s all you can do. You’re not responsible for their decisions.

  • Meet people where they are in their grief. What do you do when families don’t want the employee’s death discussed as a suicide? Everyone grieves differently. They experience trauma differently. You can’t prescribe how they’ll grieve.

  • Actively build community after a loss. People will feel the loss of relationship. Create opportunities for them to fill that space.

, , , , , , , ,

Assess Your Stress -- Tactics to Increase Performance by Taming Tension: Interview with Dena Ali | Ep 15

, , , , , , , ,
Assess Your Stress -- Tactics to Increase Performance by Taming Tension: Interview with Dena Ali | Ep 15

Is “stress” all bad?

No.

In fact if you didn’t have any stress in your life you would be bored — and may even feel a little purposeless. Humans need to be challenged mentally and physically. The good side of stress — or Eustress — is what helps us grow and even reach peak performance. It’s where we are thriving.

But sometimes our stress levels tip from Eustress to Distress. Unchecked distress can lead to other mental health challenges like exhaustion, burnout, and crises.

In this episode, I speak with Battalion Chief of the Raleigh Fire Department and founding member of North Carolina’s Peer Support Program, Dena Ali . We talk about the stress continuum and its impact on work performance, and how a powerful antidote for stress is something we often forget to do: PLAY!

, , , , , , , ,

SPECIAL EPISODE What You Need to Know about the National Guidelines for Workplace Suicide Prevention: Interview with Dr. Jodi Jacobson Frey | Ep 13

, , , , , , , ,
SPECIAL EPISODE What You Need to Know about the National Guidelines for Workplace Suicide Prevention: Interview with Dr. Jodi Jacobson Frey | Ep 13

Most workplaces agree that having a mental health program of some kind is good for their workers, and in turn good for their mission; however, most don’t know what to do besides get the benefit of an Employee Assistance Program. In this special extended episode, I speak with my right hand woman Dr. Jodi Jacobson Frey. Jodi and I co-chair the Workplace Suicide Prevention and Postvention Committee and have collaborated for almost 15 years on how best to support workplaces in developing a robust worker well-being culture. In this episode, Jodi covers these three takeaways:

  1. Take a good organizational look in the mirror

  2. Don’t just check a box

  3. Back it up — bring your plans to life

,

The Wounded Leader -- How Unresolved Trauma Impacts Executive Performance: Interview with Corey Jones | Ep 8

,
The Wounded Leader -- How Unresolved Trauma Impacts Executive Performance: Interview with Corey Jones | Ep 8

Behind the masks of many of our most impactful leaders there is often a story

– a story of childhood trauma.

While the psychological insights of resilient childhood trauma survivors give them deep emotional intelligence into what makes other people do the things they do, many of these leaders do not talk about their trauma experiences.

What we know about unresolved childhood trauma is that it often has long-term lingering effects. As trauma expert Bessel van der Kolk says, “The Body Keeps the Score.” In other words, the terror and isolation that exists for many children at the core of their trauma significantly impacts the brain in a way that the effects show up later in life as intense anxiety, numbing, and rage.

One of the most important challenges for leaders who are healing from trauma is gaining the skills to regulate the emotions often hijack a traumatized brain. In this podcast, I interview the inspiring leader and trauma survivor Corey Jones. He shares these important actionable take-aways.

, , , , ,

Headspace for the Workplace -- Greetings from Dr. Sally | Ep 1

, , , , ,
Headspace for the Workplace -- Greetings from Dr. Sally | Ep 1

In our brain-based economy, we depend on fully engaged, mentally healthy teams. Organizations that have figured this out not only have a competitive advantage, they are awesome places to work. If you want to be able to recruit and retain emerging talent, this podcast will give you the tools that let them know their workplace cares about them.

Psychological safety goes beyond just a fear of making mistakes or suggesting new ideas — it’s really a deep feeling of trust. Psychologically safe environments are where people believe “you have my back” in all areas: when I am learning, when I feel different than others, and when I am having a very difficult time.

Psychologically safe and healthy workplaces actively seek to promote workers’ emotional health and prevent psychosocial hazards due to workplace factors.

Most people who die by suicide or overdose are of working age, making the workplace arguably the most cross cutting system for suicide prevention, addiction recovery and mental health promotion. And yet, workplaces are often underprepared and react rather than respond when faced with mental health emergencies.

Take a listen to the lessons learned and actionable take-aways to promote mental health and wellbeing and support people through tough times – at work.