Burnt Out to Lit Up

2Show Up: How to Manage Multiple Fires

On a Friday evening during the COVID-19 pandemic, I received a call that shook me.

A senior executive, his voice trembling, informed me that his teenage daughter had attempted suicide. He was desperately trying to connect with our benefits providers after hours, seeking immediate help for her as she lay in the hospital, in need of stabilization at a residential mental health treatment center. He feared that the place she would be sent to might not provide the care and support she urgently required.

My heart sank.

Although it wasn’t explicitly in my job description, this wasn’t my first encounter with an employee-related suicide attempt. However, this hit me on a personal level.

Through getting to know each other, we discovered our daughters were of the same age and exchanged heartfelt stories about our families. His daughters were the center of his world.

“I’m so sorry you’re going through this.  You are not alone. We are here to support you.” I assured him. I immediately assigned our head of benefits to oversee his case personally and also asked our most senior HR business partner to reach out to him for additional care and support.

As I detailed the resources available to him and assured him of my availability throughout the weekend, he responded with a heavy heart, “Thanks so much. My head is spinning. This is unbelievably hard. My heart is broken. Again, apologies for reaching out over the weekend.”

After I had conveyed all the necessary ...