Skip to Content

Sally Spencer-Thomas, PsyD, MNM

Clinical Psychologist, International Speaker, President of United Suicide Survivors International


Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas writes the employee well-being column for IRMI.com, bringing evidence-informed insight and lived experience to the forefront of workplace mental health.

A clinical psychologist and impact entrepreneur, Dr. Spencer-Thomas entered suicide prevention after losing her brother, Carson, to suicide. She is nationally and internationally recognized for her leadership in closing gaps in mental health promotion and suicide prevention, especially in high-risk industries like construction. She is the lead author of the National Guidelines for Workplace Suicide Prevention, cofounder of the Construction Working Minds initiative, and a founding partner in the innovative Man Therapy campaign.

Today, she serves as a speaker, trainer, and consultant for workplace organizations and national conventions. She is also the president of the nonprofit she cofounded, United Suicide Survivors International, where she continues to champion bold, culture-changing strategies. Her clients include JE Dunn, Sundt, Hensel Phelps, Holder, ABC, Gilbane, Clayco, Quanta Services, and many labor unions. Her TEDx Talk and national speaking tours amplify voices of lived experience, helping organizations build resilient, recovery-oriented cultures where everyone has a chance at a life worth living.


Articles

Employee Well-Being

Recovery-Supportive Workplaces Strengthen Workplace Safety

April 02, 2025 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

Navigating Addiction in the Workplace

February 28, 2025 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

Maintaining the Holistic Health of Employees

October 04, 2024 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

Supporting Mental Health Caregivers, Particularly Parents

July 12, 2024 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

Three Ways Employers Can Stop Worker Suicide

June 28, 2024 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

HR and Employment Law Support Workplace Mental Health

June 16, 2023 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

How To Create a Loneliness-Resistant Workplace

April 21, 2023 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

Suicide Postvention at Work: What To Do after a Suicide Death

April 07, 2023 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

Why and How To Improve Psychological Safety in the Workplace

March 03, 2023 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

Recess Is for Adults, Too—Play and Wellness

November 01, 2022 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

BIPOC and AAPI Mental Health: Improving the Situation

March 16, 2022 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

BIPOC and AAPI Mental Health: The Current State of Affairs

March 16, 2022 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

Union Pacific Leads the Way in Suicide Prevention Initiatives

February 23, 2022 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

Understanding the Suicidal Person

September 23, 2021 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

Language Matters: Why We Don't Say "Committed Suicide"

September 15, 2021 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

Impact of COVID-19 on Jury Trials

August 12, 2021 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

988: The Future of Crisis Services

August 12, 2021 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

Suicide Prevention Crisis Services: What To Expect

March 26, 2021 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

COVID-19, Prolonged Toxic Stress, and Mental Health at Work

October 30, 2020 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

Recognize National Suicide Prevention Week

September 11, 2020 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

National Guidelines for Workplace Suicide Prevention Released

October 25, 2019 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

Why Worker Resilience, Mental Health, and Suicide Prevention Matter

June 28, 2019 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

Evaluating Employee Assistance Programs

April 05, 2019 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

Veterans Are Good for Work

October 12, 2018 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

Creating Community in a Digital Era

March 29, 2018 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

"Man Therapy": Engaging Men in Their Mental Health

February 02, 2018 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

Five Practices To Help You Find Happiness at Work

September 22, 2017 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

Understanding the Suicidal Mind

July 14, 2017 | Sally Spencer-Thomas

Employee Well-Being

Make Suicide Prevention a Health and Safety Priority

March 17, 2017 | Sally Spencer-Thomas