Bringing attention to an issue affecting countless lives

September marks National Suicide Prevention Month-a time to bring compassionate attention to an issue that touches countless lives. While this month offers a meaningful moment to raise awareness, it's vital to recognize that suicide prevention matters every single day.

Suicide is a serious public health issue that affects people from all walks of life. With nearly 80% of those who die by suicide being of working age (18-65), the workplace plays a critical role in prevention and support. Since we spend a large part of our lives at work, it's essential that we foster a culture where psychological safety and emotional well-being are prioritized.

At the Forest Service, supporting mental health-including suicide prevention-is not just a priority, it's a responsibility we share. When employees experience positive mental health, they are engaged, productive, and motivated at work. Conversely, neglecting mental health can lead to burnout, absenteeism, decreased performance, and even suicidal ideation. By coming together, we can create a culture of support and help prevent suicide.

The Forest Service is committed to its investment in the health and safety of all employees through an interim Casualty Assistance Resilience Employee Support model. This pulls together employee support resources from across the agency, including the blended Employee Assistance Program via the Employee Support and Wellbeing team and the Casualty Assistance Program/Critical Incident Stress Management team. These are valuable resources that provide employees with a vast array of tools that support the overall well-being, comprehensive health, and resilience of employees.

The agency has partnered with #BeThe1To and 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which provide additional resources for suicide awareness and prevention. A tool employees may find helpful is the #BeThe1To 5 action steps that outline what a person can do to help someone who might be in crisis. Further, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline allows anyone who is concerned about themselves or someone else to talk directly with a counselor by either texting or calling 988. For more information and resources, visit Suicide Prevention Resources.

For Forest Service resources, please visit the Employee Support & Well-Being Hub or Employee Services.

Thank you for your continued commitment to making mental health and safety a priority.