Going Upstream: What Leaders Can Learn from Proactive Mental Health Promotion with Scott LoMurray

Going Upstream: What Leaders Can Learn from Proactive Mental Health Promotion with Scott LoMurray

What does upstream suicide prevention look like in the workplace?

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.

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From Rock Bottom to Rock Solid: Building a Sober, Stronger Workforce with Dave Argus

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From Rock Bottom to Rock Solid: Building a Sober, Stronger Workforce with Dave Argus

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.

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Lost in Translation: Why Mental Health & Safety Resources Must Speak Everyone’s Language with Loretta Mulberry

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Lost in Translation: Why Mental Health & Safety Resources Must Speak Everyone’s Language with Loretta Mulberry

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.

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Psychological Safety Is a Leadership Strategy – How to Create Cultures Where People Thrive with Dr. Charlie Cartwright

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Psychological Safety Is a Leadership Strategy – How to Create Cultures Where People Thrive with Dr. Charlie Cartwright

“It’s easy to show up for others on the sunny days; people need us during the storms.” – Charlie Cartwright

Episode Description

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 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.

Two Big Takeaways

  1. Ask the primary question often.
    (Tune in to find out what it is, and why it unlocks trust.)

  2. There’s a four-letter word that connects us to ourselves and others.
    (And no, it’s not what you think. Charlie breaks it down.)

“When things get heated, pause and be curious.”

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Trauma, Work, and the Courage to Stay Connected: Building a Trauma-Informed Workplace with Eli Embleton | Ep 69

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Trauma, Work, and the Courage to Stay Connected: Building a Trauma-Informed Workplace with Eli Embleton | Ep 69

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.

Leaders Go First: How Executive Vulnerability Transforms Workplace Mental Health with Adam Nemer | Ep. 68

Leaders Go First: How Executive Vulnerability Transforms Workplace Mental Health with Adam Nemer | Ep. 68

What happens when a C-suite executive speaks the quiet part out loud about mental health?

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.

Now the founder of Simple Mental Health, Adam consults globally with companies to foster mentally healthy workplace cultures where stigma is dismantled, vulnerability is normalized, and leaders are empowered to lead with compassion and courage.

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Trends from Mental Health America’s Workplace Mental Health Report: EAPs Aren’t a Security Blanket—Trust Is the Real Game Changer with Suzi Craig | Ep. 67

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Trends from Mental Health America’s Workplace Mental Health Report: EAPs Aren’t a Security Blanket—Trust Is the Real Game Changer with Suzi Craig | Ep. 67

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.

Episode Highlights:

Mental Health America’s 2024 Mind the Workplace report gathered responses from nearly 4,000 employees across 21 industries—and the results are in: psychological safety, not just access to resources, is what makes or breaks mental health at work.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why traditional Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are not the catch-all solution we think they are

  • How trust and transparency in leadership are the most predictive drivers of workplace well-being

  • What forward-thinking companies are doing beyond compliance to build a thriving culture of support

  • Why mental health strategies must be “baked in”, not bolted on

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When the Worst Happens: A Roadmap for Workplace Postvention with Alison Clements | Ep. 66

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When the Worst Happens: A Roadmap for Workplace Postvention with Alison Clements | Ep. 66

What Is Workplace Postvention?

Postvention refers to the planned support provided to individuals and teams impacted by a death due to suicide. For many organizations, especially those supporting high-risk or vulnerable populations, suicide loss is not just tragic — it can also be traumatic. Yet, most workplaces are not prepared.

In this episode, I chat with Alison Clements, a psychologist in private practice and Adjunct Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia. Alison has spent the last six years partnering with 22 diverse workplaces from teams of 100 to 57,000, to co-design tailored postvention toolkits. Her internationally published model is now being adapted for major institutions, such as the UK National Health Service.

Paradox of Fear in Leadership -- Attitudes Around Emotions Start from the Top with Russell Peterson | Ep. 65

Paradox of Fear in Leadership -- Attitudes Around Emotions Start from the Top with Russell Peterson | Ep. 65

Why do leaders need to talk about fear and emotion at work?

How can peer support programs improve workplace mental health?

What are the hidden dangers of emotional suppression in tough, self-reliant industries?

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 deeply embedded survival strategies. 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

A Lived Experience Perspective: A Construction Worker’s Story of Work-Related Suicide and Survival | Ep. 64

A Lived Experience Perspective: A Construction Worker’s Story of Work-Related Suicide and Survival | Ep. 64

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. 

Compassionate Curiosity: How SAR Disease Can Transform Workplace Wellbeing with Michael Wright | Ep. 63

Compassionate Curiosity: How SAR Disease Can Transform Workplace Wellbeing with Michael Wright | Ep. 63

This week on Headspace for the Workplace, I speak with Michael Wright, an accomplished first responder and chaplain from Texas with decades of experience in EMS and a profound understanding of the human condition. Our conversation explored the intricacies of creating psychologically safe work environments by recognizing and acting upon subtle signs of distress—a skill Michael refers to as identifying "SAR disease" or something ain't right syndrome. His insights underscored the critical role of awareness in fostering workplace well-being.

Recognizing the Signs: Mental Health and Opioid Addiction in the Workplace with Kristina Ewing | Ep. 62

Recognizing the Signs: Mental Health and Opioid Addiction in the Workplace with Kristina Ewing | Ep. 62

The journey into overdose prevention in workplaces may seem daunting to some, but Kristina Ewing joins us to unpack how we can put powerful, practical strategies in place to save lives. We discuss how creative benefits planning can stem the cycle of addiction and how tools like Narcan can become as essential in workplaces as fire extinguishers. Let’s challenge ourselves to think bigger and act bolder when it comes to safeguarding our colleagues and loved ones.

Lessons from Police Suicide Research: Improving Mental Health Support Across Industries with Dr. Simon Hatcher | Ep. 61

Lessons from Police Suicide Research: Improving Mental Health Support Across Industries with Dr. Simon Hatcher | Ep. 61

As someone who started their career in police psychology, I've always been deeply interested in understanding how high-risk professions impact mental health. Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Simon Hatcher from the University of Ottawa about his fascinating research on police suicide and what we can learn from it to help other high-risk industries. Our conversation revealed some critical insights that can benefit workplaces across various sectors.

The Role of EAPs in Creating Psychologically Safe Workplaces with the President of CCA John Levy | Ep. 60

The Role of EAPs in Creating Psychologically Safe Workplaces with the President of CCA John Levy | Ep. 60

As a mental health advocate working with numerous employers, I frequently encounter organizations that underutilize one of their most valuable resources: their Employee Assistance Program (EAP). In my recent conversation with John Levy, president of CCA, we explored how companies need to shift their perception of EAPs from being just another employee benefit to viewing them as strategic partners in workplace wellbeing. This paradigm shift is crucial because when employers limit their understanding of EAPs to just providing therapy services, they miss out on a wealth of opportunities to improve their organizational health.

From the Shadows into the Light – Supporting Complicated Grief at Work: Interview with Katie Huey | Ep. 59

From the Shadows into the Light – Supporting Complicated Grief at Work: Interview with Katie Huey | Ep. 59

This week I am joined by Katie Huey, an expert in leadership and organizational development, whose personal journey through loss has fueled her passion for advocating compassionate workplaces. Together, we discuss the profound impact of complicated and disenfranchised grief on individuals and the workplace.

The Role of Employers in Firearm Safety and Suicide Prevention with US Army Veteran John Cornelius | Ep. 58

The Role of Employers in Firearm Safety and Suicide Prevention with US Army Veteran John Cornelius | Ep. 58

I had the privilege of hosting Arm Veteran, John Cornelius, who brought incredible insight into the pressing issue of firearm safety and suicide prevention. As workplace leaders, it’s common to question why firearm safety matters within our professional environments. Yet, as John eloquently explained, the alarming statistics make a compelling case for proactive measures. When it comes to our youth, the urgency escalates: about 82% of young people who die by firearm suicide obtain these weapons from friends or family members. This is why creating safer homes through responsible firearm storage is a critical aspect of suicide prevention.

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2024 Year-End Rewind – Reflecting, Growing, and Shaping the Future Together

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2024 Year-End Rewind – Reflecting, Growing, and Shaping the Future Together

Welcome to a special year-end episode of Headspace for the Workplace, where we take a moment to reflect on the past year, celebrate milestones, and plan for an even more impactful 2025. As we close out 2024, we honor a deeply personal milestone: twenty years since the suicide death of my precious brother, Carson. His memory continues to guide my mission to foster transformative change in workplace mental health and suicide prevention.

Highlights of Our 2024 Journey

This year has been a testament to the power of lived experience, collaborative leadership, and actionable strategies in reshaping workplace culture. Here’s a look back at some of the key moments that defined 2024

Investing in Mental Health Services for Spanish-Speaking Workforces with Dr. Pierluigi Mancini | Ep. 57

Investing in Mental Health Services for Spanish-Speaking Workforces with Dr. Pierluigi Mancini | Ep. 57

I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Dr. Pierluigi Mancini, a stalwart in promoting mental health awareness for the Spanish-speaking workforce. As we delved into the intricacies of mental health care and its accessibility, it became strikingly clear that we must move beyond mere translation and token gestures. Instead, we need a comprehensive strategy that acknowledges and integrates cultural and linguistic diversity. Dr. Mancini aptly put it: recognizing cultural cues can be the key to mental wellness at work. This underscores the necessity for organizations to train their supervisors and HR teams in detecting nuanced expressions of mental distress that might not conform to Western paradigms.

The Anxious Achiever – Rethinking the Relationship Between Your Mental Health and Success with Morra Aarons-Mele | Ep. 56

The Anxious Achiever – Rethinking the Relationship Between Your Mental Health and Success with Morra Aarons-Mele | Ep. 56

Morra Aarons-Mele is a renowned voice in the realm of leadership and mental health, bringing a fresh perspective to how executives and professionals can embrace and channel their anxiety to become resilient, impactful leaders. Known for her thought-provoking podcast, The Anxious Achiever, Morra redefines the relationship between mental health and success, advocating for a balanced, mindful approach to leadership.

Long-term Postvention Strategies for the Workplace with Tim De Goey | Ep. 55

Long-term Postvention Strategies for the Workplace with Tim De Goey | Ep. 55

I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Tim De Goey all the way from the Sunshine Coast of Australia, and, wow, did we dive deep into an important topic—workplace postvention. If you’re scratching your head on what that is, think of it as the action plan for when your workplace is rocked by a suicide, whether it’s a coworker, a family member, or even a retiree. We’re not talking about sweeping it under the rug; it’s about facing it head-on with empathy and a solid game plan. Tim shared some real gems, like breaking down the first crucial steps for workplaces to provide a safe space for people to grieve and process their sorrow. Can you believe that some places just try to march on like nothing’s happened? Yikes!