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.
When I talk with people who have lived through suicidal despair, I’m struck again and again by something that doesn’t fit neatly into a clinical checklist.
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.
The majority of people who die by suicide are of working age, and almost all of them are employed, previously employed or a family member of someone employed at the time of death; however, workplaces are often ill-equipped to provide grief and trauma support after such a tragedy. Many workplaces, if they provide grief support at all, do not usually take into account the complexities or duration often needed to cope in the aftermath of suicide.
