Supporting Suicide Prevention Month shows a company’s commitment to employee well-being and to create a more mentally healthy and inclusive workplace. It is a way to raise awareness of suicide and help employees to identify warning signs in themselves or others and to seek help if needed. Also, supporting Suicide Prevention Month can help to reduce stigma associated with mental illness.
How your company can support Suicide Prevention Month
The following initiatives were curated by our team of social impact experts who execute thoughtful social impact efforts for our customers every day. Some of these initiatives are easy enough to accomplish internally, but for others, you will need to lean on a social impact program or team.
Don’t have a social impact program or team? Learn more about Percent Pledge powered customized social impact programs, a single source for donations, volunteering, charity vetting, & impact reports.
[1] Donations
Our Percent Pledge Mental Health Cause Portfolio contains three highly-regarded, thoroughly vetted nonprofits that help take the guesswork out of choosing the right organization for your company and employees to donate to and partner with.
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ young people under the age of 25.
Child Mind Institute
Child Mind Institute is an independent, national nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders.
Hope for the Day
Hope For The Day (HFTD) is a nonprofit movement empowering the conversation on proactive suicide prevention and mental health education.
Percent Pledge allows all companies and employees to donate to these nonprofits simultaneously through its Workplace Giving Platform.
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[2] Volunteering
Time is invaluable, and volunteering your company’s time, while inspiring your employees to do the same, is often the greatest gift you can give. It’s the perfect team-building event and can have an incredibly positive impact on your employees and company.
Get involved where it matters most
Organize a group of employees to volunteer at the Crisis Text Line—a free, 24/7 text line for people in crisis in the United States. Crisis Text Line is powered by volunteer Crisis Counselors who train and work remotely, anywhere with a computer and secure internet connection. It all begins with training. In 30 hours, volunteers walk away knowing reflective listening, collaborative problem-solving, and crisis management—skills they can apply anywhere.
Help young ladies in foster care
Project Glimmer (PG) works through partnerships with over 1,000 organizations including foster care, mental health, crisis care, and youth services. Organize a group of volunteers to help wrap care packages remotely for PG’s “Boxing Joy” program for girls in foster care. PG will send products and wrapping supplies to wrap about 100 gifts. They also include shipping labels to send gifts directly to community partners who distribute the gifts to the girls and women they serve.
Be a voice of support
NAMI is dedicated to improving the lives of millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Their ongoing awareness, education, and advocacy efforts include advocating for a better crisis response system, developing resources for youth and young adults, and the NAMI HelpLine. HelpLine volunteers work to answer questions, offer support, and provide practical next steps. Assemble a group of employees to volunteer with your local NAMI.
A single volunteer event takes 20-30 hours to plan and execute. Learn how Percent Pledge saves your company that time by organizing customized volunteer events.
[3] Other ways to support mental health at your company
Inspire your employees to get involved to spread support. No gesture is too small.
Send positive vibes
Our lives are full of more joy and positivity than we realize, but we often fail to acknowledge it, so take a few minutes to do just that. Organize an Employee Gratitude Challenge, and encourage your team members to write down three things they’re grateful for–in their professional or personal lives.
Perform a random act of kindness
A kind act for another person is beneficial to mental health and can provide a momentary happiness boost to the giver and receiver. Encourage your employees to pick a random act—whether it’s by helping out on a project or opening a door for someone—to help boost optimistic feelings, confidence, and happiness. It’s sure to start a domino effect.
Have a laugh
Laughter helps reduce anxiety and is linked to elevated moods. Encourage employees to start meetings with a favorite dad joke and put a smile on someone's face.
Take a walk
Organize a group walk, before or after work, or during the lunch hour. Studies show that being surrounded by nature can help reduce depression and increase wellness.
Find a breakdown of each of these efforts and more for your company to make a positive impact this September by downloading our Mental Health Kit. Again, if you need help pursuing these initiatives, learn more about Percent Pledge’s proven social impact program and team of experts by requesting a demo.
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