Silence around suicide and mental health in the workplace carries a steep price -- measured not only in human suffering, but also in productivity loss, legal exposure, reputational harm, and missed opportunities for early intervention.In this episode of Headspace for the Workplace, I sit down with Canadian guest Tara Adams, a leading voice in workplace suicide prevention, to unpack the business case for proactive, skills-based suicide prevention at work. Drawing on research, lived experience, and real-world implementation, Tara explains why organizations that invest in connection, competence, and care build stronger, more resilient workplaces.This conversation moves beyond awareness to action, exploring how everyday workplace relationships can become protective bridges to help -- earlier, more often, and with less fear. for more information on this episode go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/headspace/81
In this emotionally resonant episode of Headspace for the Workplace, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas talks with Dr. Colleen Saringer, a former organizational health leader, speaker, and spouse of a construction business owner, about one of the most overlooked realities of workplace mental health: the spillover of job stress into family life. For more information on this episode go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/headspace/80
Most workplaces measure safety by one number: injuries. But what if some of the real drivers of safety are invisible?In this episode, I sit down with Bill Sims Jr., one of the National Safety Council’s “Top 10 Global Keynote Speakers” and the author of the widely acclaimed book Green Beans & Ice Cream: The Remarkable Power of Positive Reinforcement. Bill has spent more than 30 years designing more than 1,000 behavior-based positive reinforcement systems for companies like Coca-Cola, Disney, DuPont, Siemens, Orkin, and many others. Together, they explore how “Zero Injuries” is the wrong target and how shifting to Zero At-Risk Behaviors can transform both physical safety and psychological wellbeing in high-risk industries.This conversation connects the dots between behavioral science, recognition, culture change, and mental health, offering leaders a roadmap for building workplaces where both bodies and minds are safe. For more information on this episode go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/headspace/79
In safety-focused industries, leaders are trained to identify physical hazards before they cause harm. But what if those same situational awareness skills could be used to support mental well-being? In this energizing episode of Headspace for the Workplace, I sit down with Alex Willis, a former NFL player and founder of Leadership Surge, to explore how organizations can apply the core principles of safety awareness—such as real-time assessment, micro-adjustments, and field communication—to improve team well-being, reduce burnout, and build trust. For mor information on this episode go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/headspace/78
What if we trained for mental fitness the same way we train for physical fitness?In high-intensity jobs like firefighting, healthcare, and construction, resilience is a survival skill. But the cultural story of “toughness” often silences the very people we count on to save lives.In this powerful episode, I chat with retired firefighter and mental health researcher Brandon Evans, founder of Fire to Light, to explore what it really takes to turn workplace wellness from just awareness into daily action. Using lived experience and global best practices, Brandon helps us rethink what it means to be strong, how to build psychological safety, and why incorporating mental health into our training routine—rather than just reacting to crises—must become standard practice. For more information on this episode go to sallyspencerthomas.com/headspace/77
Ever wonder why some workplace mental-health campaigns land flat even when the intention is in the right place?In this episode, I sit down with Monica Kramer McConkey, an agricultural mental-health specialist who has spent three decades helping rural and blue-collar communities thrive. Together they unpack a truth many leaders miss: mental health efforts fail when we ask workers to enter our world instead of meeting them in theirs.Monica grew up on a Minnesota farm and knows the invisible weight carried by farmers, construction crews, and shift workers who rarely see themselves in corporate wellness brochures. She shows us that if leaders really want culture change, they need to slow down, listen first, and meet people where they already live, work, and gather. For more information on this episode go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/headspace/76
When it comes to workplace mental health, culture and self-care matter, but policy is the game-changer. In this episode, I sit down with Corey Feist, a healthcare leader who turned personal tragedy into national reform. After losing his sister-in-law, Dr. Lorna Breen, to suicide, Corey co-founded the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, leading a movement to remove systemic barriers that keep workers from seeking mental health care.Today, their advocacy has reached more than 1.5 million healthcare workers nationwide, influencing laws, licensing, credentialing, and insurance practices across the country. Corey shares why changing applications and legal protections is a matter of life and death.Policy is prevention. Listen in as Corey Feist makes the case that changing systems saves lives and learn how your organization can take the first step this quarter to remove barriers and protect your workforce. for more information on this episode go to sallyspencerthomas.com/headspace/75
In this episode of Headspace for the Workplace, I sit down with Brad Anderson, executive at IMA and proud leader in long-term recovery, to explore how the wisdom of recovery can transform workplace culture.Brad opens up about breaking through bias, navigating the paradox of anonymity, and showing how qualities like humility, accountability, and service to others are just as essential in boardrooms as they are in recovery rooms.The conversation digs into the leadership lessons embedded in the 12-Step model. for more information on this episode go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/headspace/74
Most workplace mental health efforts don’t start until someone is already struggling—crisis lines, EAP referrals, or stress leave. But what if we moved earlier?In this episode of Headspace for the Workplace, Scott LoMurray shares upstream wisdom and shows how these same strategies can transform the workplace. Leaders will learn how to bake strength-building and trust into everyday leadership practices, and why focusing on culture and connection today prevents tomorrow’s burnout, turnover, and disengagement. for more information on this episode go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/headspace/73
What if your drug-testing program actually kept more people safe and employed? In this conversation, Dave Argus (Director of Operations, Karas & Karas Glass) shows how his team turned testing into early detection + a bridge to care, and why structured multiple-chance agreements outperform zero-tolerance for real-world safety and retention. In Dave’s words, “We don’t give up on them after they make a mistake — we get them more support.” You’ll hear how workers in recovery proactively request testing to catch slips before they “go over the waterfall,” and how clear guardrails, peer allies, and treatment partners make recovery part of safety, not separate from it. For more information on this episode go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/headspace/72
What happens when critical safety and mental health information is only in English? Imagine stepping onto a job site where you can’t fully understand your supervisor’s instructions, can’t ask questions without fear of embarrassment, and can’t connect with your coworkers because the language barrier feels like a brick wall. For many Spanish-speaking workers in high-risk industries like construction, this is reality. And the stakes impact mental health, safety, and survival.In the U.S. construction industry—and many other high-risk sectors—Spanish is often the first language for a large part of the workforce. Yet too often, training, safety manuals, and mental health resources are only available in English. The result? A growing number of workers face avoidable risks of injury, fatality, and even suicide. for more information on this episode go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/headspace/71
In our brain-based economy, where innovation and human connection drive success, psychological safety is no longer a “nice to have”—it’s mission-critical.This episode of Headspace for the Workplace features Dr. Charlie Cartwright, a nationally recognized leadership strategist and culture whisperer. We explore how workplace leaders can create environments where trust runs deep, communication flows freely, and people feel safe to show up fully, especially when things get hard.We unpack why psychological safety is the foundation of mental well-being at work, and the unexpected “four-letter word” that can transform your leadership approach. for more information on this episode go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/headspace/70
We don’t always recognize how trauma shows up at work. Sometimes it is hiding in the shadows. The quiet withdrawal. The anger that simmers just below the surface. The exhaustion that no amount of sleep can fix.In this moving and honest episode, Eli Embleton shares his story of how a life-threatening trauma in his family sent him down a path of depression, rage, and emotional disconnection. Work became his survival strategy, a place to avoid the pain, to push through, to appear “fine.” But under the surface, he believed he was a burden.What saved him wasn’t just time or treatment; it was connection. Through storytelling, community, and purposeful work, Eli learned the art of what he calls “muscular vulnerability” -- the ability to share pain with strength. Today, as Dream Manager at Zachry Construction, Eli walks alongside others with similar stories, helping people reach instead of retreat.In this podcast, we discuss:What are the signs of unresolved trauma showing up at work?How can workplace leaders support employees with trauma histories?If you’re a workplace leader, this episode is a guide to understanding trauma not as a personal weakness, but as a human experience that deserves compassion and care.For more information on this episode go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/headspace/69
In this powerful episode of Headspace for the Workplace, Adam Nemer, former CFO and Operations Executive at Kaiser Permanente, shares how a personal collapse became a catalyst for healing, connection, and leadership transformation. Adam takes us through the moment he decided to “go first” by publicly sharing his struggles with undiagnosed depression and anxiety. That choice set a cultural shift in motion across his entire organization.for more information on this episode go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/headspace/68
Listen now to this important episode with Suzi Craig, Vice President of Workplace Mental Health at Mental Health America (MHA), as we explore what really moves the needle in employee well-being. for more information on this episode go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/headspace/67
In this episode we tackle…· What is workplace postvention, and why does it matter after a suicide loss?· How is a suicide postvention protocol different from a workplace crisis response plan?· How can organizations prepare for the emotional impact of suicide in the workplace?· What are the key components of an effective workplace postvention plan?· Why are most workplaces unprepared for suicide bereavement?· How does Alison Clements’ evidence-based model improve postvention responses in high-risk industries?· What are the long-term impacts of suicide exposure on staff, and how can leaders support recovery?· How do you tailor postvention toolkits to fit different workplace contexts?· What are the first steps to create a workplace suicide postvention policy?· How can postvention strategies help prevent future suicides at work? for more information on this episode go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/headspace/66
If you've ever been told to “suck it up,” “walk it off,” or “leave it at the door,” congratulations! You’ve had a front-row seat to emotional shutdown culture. One that’s usually recognized, reinforced, and modeled by top leadership. In this conversation, I talk with counselor and wilderness enthusiast Russell Peterson about how emotional avoidance, particularly in male-dominated, tough-it-out industries, stems not from weakness but from survival systems that overfunction. The good news? We can learn to steer fear productively... and finally ditch the myth that showing emotion makes us fragile.We unpack how to help leaders become culture shapers, not emotional bottlenecks. for more information on this episode go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/headspace/2025/5/27/65
Join Jorgen Gullestrup with guest speaker Justin Geange, as they discuss work-related suicide. Hosted by the IASP Suicide and the Workplace Special Interest Group. Justin Geange is a survivor of a work-related suicide attempt who has since dedicated his life to supporting others. Now a Field Officer with the charity MATES in Construction, Justin shares his powerful story – exploring the circumstances surrounding his attempt, the lessons he’s learned, and how he’s using that experience to help hundreds of fellow workers. For more information on this episode go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/headspace/a-lived-experience-perspective-a-construction-workers-story-of-work-related-suicide-and-survival
In this episode of Headspace for the Workplace, Dr. Sally Spencer Thomas chats with Michael Wright, a first responder and chaplain, about the importance of recognizing mental health challenges in the workplace. Listen in to discover how Michael's experiences as a paramedic inform his approach to mental health advocacy and why tuning into that "something ain't right" feeling can lead to meaningful intervention. They explore the concept of SAR disease and how leaning into compassionate curiosity can transform how we support our colleagues. Perfect for employers, leaders, and anyone eager to create a psychologically safe work environment. for more information on this episode gor to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/headspace/compassionate-curiosity-how-sar-disease-can-transform-workplace-wellbeing-with-michael-wright-ep-63
Discover actionable strategies for overdose prevention in the workplace in this episode of Headspace for the Workplace with Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas and guest Kristina Ewing. Learn how creative benefit planning and easy Narcan implementation can save lives and improve workplace well-being. Tune in for insights on addressing opioid addiction, mental health, and reducing stigma. For more information on this episode go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/headspace/recognizing-the-signs-mental-health-and-opioid-addiction-in-the-workplace-with-kristina-ewing-ep-62