How to support a colleague who has lost a loved one to suicide

After my father’s death by suicide, I learned how difficult it can be to know who to tell. These lessons can help colleagues offer support.

In 2024 almost 50,000 Americans died by suicide, making it the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. And the ripple effects are even wider. According to research, each suicide is connected to 135 people who knew the deceased, including coworkers, along with a percentage of those who were considered “close connections.” Extrapolating that data, 6.6 million people are added to the larger community of suicide loss survivors each year.