"This is the real secret of life—to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. Instead of calling it work, realize it is play." —Alan Watts

As an Employee Assistance Professional (EAP), I’ve witnessed an alarming increase in the number of people who are showing up to work and reporting a mental health crisis that includes thoughts of suicide.

One of the standard questions that arise when someone reaches out in the workplace regarding a mental health crisis is whether or that person should remain on the job or be placed out on leave to receive necessary support. While the decision varies based on job responsibilities, an individual's history of mental health problems, and the nature of the self-harm comments, one response I hear repeatedly is that the employee wants to remain at work due to it being the one place where they feel safe. Whether it be a sense of purpose, a distraction, or a refuge from problems at home, it’s clear that while many people find their jobs intensely stressful and a threat to their mental well-being, many others find solace and safety at work.

Even when the workplace is a source of stress that has a direct impact on the employee’s mental health, I’ve........

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