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.
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.
The opioid crisis has become an unavoidable workplace issue — one that impacts safety, productivity, and employee wellbeing across every industry. Despite a decline in overdose deaths in 2024, more than 100,000 Americans still lose their lives each year, with opioids remaining a leading cause. In this article, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas and Cal Beyer of SAFE Project outline how employers can take action through education, prevention, and preparedness — from stocking naloxone to promoting safe medication disposal — to create safer, recovery-ready workplaces and save lives.
Supporting employees in recovery isn’t just about compassion, it’s also a practical business strategy that supports workplace safety.
Federal data show that 70% of all adults with an alcohol or illicit drug use disorder are employed, making the workplace an important setting to address substance use disorders. These nearly 14 million workers are about a tenth of the entire adult workforce, of which about 2 million receive treatment annually for an SUD.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that in 2022, the number of unintentional overdose-related deaths on the job in the U.S. rose by more than 13% over 2021, from 464 to 525 deaths.
The McKinsey Health Institute’s 2023 survey of more than 30,000 employees across 30 countries found that employees who believed their holistic health was supported by their workplace reported increased innovation at work, and improved job performance.
The generally accepted dimensions of holistic health include physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. To get an idea of how you might address these all at once, consider the ergonomics of your workplace health and safety program. It is a systematized way of avoiding stress to the worker’s body, and can range from the type of office furniture you purchase, to support for repetitive motions, to how storage is designed, to even more complex considerations for skilled industrial labor. A holistic approach to worker safety seeks ways to systematize stress management not just for the body, but the whole person.
Denver, April 30, 2025 – The growing challenges of workplace injuries, absenteeism, and employee burnout are no longer just about physical ergonomics. “Emotional Ergonomics: How the Intersection of Industrial Ergonomics, Pain, and Mental Health Shapes Worker Well-Being” is a new white paper that explores how industrial ergonomics, chronic pain, and mental health are inextricably linked—and why organizations can no longer afford to treat them separately.
