I’m an emergency physician turned corporate leader. Here’s how I led our team after a employee’s suicide

The author's plane had just landed and they were anxious to get to the office after a reduction in force and an organizational move. As the senior ranking member of their team, they needed to help process everything together. Upon turning on their phone, they received a deluge of texts from their colleague, who informed them that Ashley, a valued member of the team, had taken her own life. The author was shocked and didn't quite believe what they were hearing, but they instantly donned the mantle of doctor to help their friends and colleagues through this difficult time. As an emergency physician, the author was used to telling people their loved ones had died, but they never expected to do the same in corporate America. The author soon learned that they would have to do it with little support, as the systems they were used to in the hospital were not in place in their company. The author believes that corporate America can learn from emergency medicine and turn tragedy into psychological safety by improving employee loyalty, productivity, and longevity. To achieve this, companies should build a coordinated team and established process, communicate immediately and clearly, provide visible and tangible support, help managers through it, and debrief, learn, and improve. By following these steps, companies can navigate crises by nurturing compassion, vulnerability, and shared healing, which is essential to employee wellness and engagement. The author still struggles with the questions and guilt that follow a suicide, but they have learned valuable lessons from the tragedy and believe that every leader must prepare for such situations.