Just some background, I am a regional level HR manager. 240 locations. National Retailer.
A store reported to us that an associate made comments Sunday that they wished their previous suicide attempts were successful and they are ready to die. In true fashion, the store didn't report until Monday morning. Fortunately the associate showed to work Monday(today)
This initially went to my HRBP but they are still in training. So I took over and had them shadow me.
The associate in question I had actually met during a previous store visit and we shared a fondness for a horrible but good sci fi movie called Plan 9 from Outerspace. This store location is about and hour and half. So rather then reach out on the phone I drove to the store. He was there and we met and talked in the managers office.
I let him know we were made aware of his comments. I let him know we wanted to help him and the company offers free mental health via EAP and as he had short term and long term disability plus PTO, we could even offer an LOA and he wouldn't be financially impacted. Dude had like 5 weeks of pto saved up.
He gets a bit angry and says his life is his business and walks out, gets in his car and goes home. In this moment I'm worried he may self harm. We call non emergency and they do a wellness check. In a short 30 minutes, he killed himself at home. Gun shot per the police.
This all happened at around 1pm today. I'm devastating thinking I accelerated his suicide. I know I didn't cause and yes I'm scheduling therapy. But it just keeps replaying in my mind. What did I do wrong. I should have did something different.
I have since discovered his spouse had left him 6 months ago. She took everything and near full custody of their son.
I just needed to vent. Thank you for hearing me.
And no I am not suicidal. Just sad. I have too much to live for.