At the 2026 American Association of Suicidology conference, I felt the field shift. Beyond risk detection and safety plans, she sensed a hunger for healing — recovery-oriented care, belonging, and "muscular hope." From workplace prevention to solidarity across difference, this is suicide prevention moving from death prevention toward life reclamation.
Research confirms that supervisor behavior is a stronger driver of worker mental health than access to care itself. In construction, where pressure is relentless and stigma runs deep, the person running the crew can either open a door to help or silently close it. Here's how to get it right.
Seventeen hours awake produces the same cognitive impairment as a .05% BAC. Workers with sleep problems face a 60–62% higher injury risk. Yet most workplaces still treat sleep as a personal issue. Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas unpacks why sleep is a leading safety metric — and what to do about it.
What if the word we've been missing is soul exhaustion? Not burnout. Not depression. Something deeper - when the essence of who you are is tired. In this post, I share the conversation that changed how I think about suicide prevention, and the new workbook that's bringing this framework to life.
Awe isn’t just a beautiful feeling. It’s a powerful, science-backed way to calm your nervous system and shift your perspective. In this reflection, I share how revisiting a single awe-filled moment can move you out of stress and into connection, gratitude, and presence. It’s a simple, accessible tool for resilience — one you can use anytime you need to reset.
At the 2026 American Association of Suicidology conference, I felt the field shift. Beyond risk detection and safety plans, she sensed a hunger for healing — recovery-oriented care, belonging, and "muscular hope." From workplace prevention to solidarity across difference, this is suicide prevention moving from death prevention toward life reclamation.
Awe isn’t just a beautiful feeling. It’s a powerful, science-backed way to calm your nervous system and shift your perspective. In this reflection, I share how revisiting a single awe-filled moment can move you out of stress and into connection, gratitude, and presence. It’s a simple, accessible tool for resilience — one you can use anytime you need to reset.
Our nervous systems respond to place in powerful, measurable ways. From the buzz of a city to the calm of home, the vastness of mountains, or the rhythm of the ocean, each environment shapes how our bodies settle, stimulate, or restore. In this reflection, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas explores the psychology of place—and invites you to notice where your own nervous system can finally exhale.
The countdown is on for the 5th Annual Construction Mental Health & Wellbeing Conference — where construction meets courage, connection, and care. With leaders from across the industry gathering to turn awareness into real action, this year’s event promises powerful conversations, practical tools, and unforgettable moments of recognition, including a Flannel & Finery awards dinner and a keynote on addiction, mentorship, and mental wellness in construction.
Time off is supposed to restore us — yet for many, the calm of vacation disappears within days of returning to work. In this candid reflection, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas explores why holiday PTO works, why it fades so fast, and how leaders and teams can take real breaks that actually last. Blending neuroscience, research, and lived experience, this piece offers practical ways to rest without ruining it by January 2.
The holidays can intensify the ache of suicide loss — the empty chair, the unanswered questions, and the pull of the “canyon of why.” In this reflection, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas shares her family’s story of losing her brother Carson and offers gentle guidance for survivors moving through grief, guilt, and remembrance during this tender season.
Veterans carry remarkable strengths into civilian life — resilience, mission focus, and a deep commitment to taking care of their own. As we move beyond Veterans Day, this piece explores how those qualities make veterans powerful leaders in workplace mental health and suicide prevention, and why their service uniquely prepares them to champion wellbeing long after the uniform comes off.
We are heartbroken to share the passing of Dr. Charlie Cartwright — a true champion of care, connection, and courage. Charlie lived his message deeply, reminding us that “connections save lives.” His warmth, wisdom, and humanity shaped our field and touched countless lives. Though we’ve lost a dear friend, his legacy of compassion continues in the work he inspired.
Grief after suicide feels like carrying a weight that never truly goes away — but over time, we grow stronger beneath it. In this reflection for International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas shares her journey after losing her brother Carson, exploring how connection, compassion, and storytelling help transform unbearable pain into shared strength.
Confession: I did not know who Robbie Williams was.
Meanwhile, the rest of the world: “You mean THE Robbie Williams??” Yes. That one. Pop megastar. International heartthrob. Somehow missed that memo.
(Sorry, Robbie. I must've been living under a rock -- or probably just buried in my graduate school studies in the ‘90s).
I stumbled upon the MOCO Museum while in London last month and left emotionally tangled in a sweater of mental health truth-telling and neon honesty.
If you’ve ever felt completely worn down from caring too much, you’re not alone. Compassion fatigue and soul exhaustion are very real, especially for those of us in helping professions. It’s not just physical or mental tiredness—it’s the deep depletion of our spirit, making it hard to feel joy, purpose, or even hope.
