Dear Rutgers Colleagues,
September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of mental health, recognize the impact that suicide has on individuals, families, and communities, and remind one another that support is available.
Mental health challenges can affect any of us and we want members of our community to feel supported, to know where to turn when they need help, and to feel better prepared to recognize when someone around them may be struggling.
As part of that commitment, University Human Resources will host Suicide Prevention in the Workplace: Noticing and Responding to Co-workers in Distress on September 15. This workshop will provide practical information about recognizing signs of distress and responding to a colleague with compassion and confidence.
This workshop is one part of Rutgers University's broader commitment to employee mental health and well-being. Through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with Lyra Health, employees and their families have access to up to six no-cost mental health therapy sessions, wellness coaching, and a wide range of additional resources designed to support emotional and mental wellness.
We hope you will join us for this important conversation and take advantage of the resources available to you and your family.
Workshop title: Suicide Prevention in the Workplace: Noticing and Responding to Co-workers in Distress
Date: September 15, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM
Description: Suicide is a leading cause of death among working-aged individuals. Research shows that suicide prevention efforts—including identifying and assisting those at risk, responding effectively to those in crisis, and ensuring access to effective mental health treatment—must be widespread and include the workplace. The good news? Employers and employees can play a powerful role in suicide prevention. This workshop will help you recognize warning signs for suicide and emotional distress and walk you through action steps to take to express concern and connect your colleague to the appropriate level of support. Many of us spend more waking hours interacting with co-workers than we do with friends or family members. Let’s work together to bring suicide out of the shadows by learning how to respond confidently, compassionately, and effectively to a co-worker in crisis.
To attend: Complete registration
To learn more about Lyra, visit the Lyra Health webpage. Thank you for all that you do for Rutgers University.
Sincerely,
Vivian Fernández
Senior Vice President for Human Resources