He had the life most people dream of.
Extremely successful, big house, sports car. He was very well liked. In fact, he was loved by anyone who knew him, and even those who didn’t. A stranger was someone he hadn’t met yet, because when you did, you’d soon be friends.
My brother, Jeff, was wicked smart. He was the kind of smart that people admired.
He was playful, fun and funny, always knowing how to be goofy. When I walked across the stage graduating with my MBA, sitting in the top balcony, he yells out the nickname he had for me…always making me laugh.
He was the kind of guy everyone aspired to be and every employer wanted as part of their team. Fun fact: besides a job at Winn Dixie when he was a teenager, he never applied to a single job. Employers sought him out.
I’ll never forget the moment. It was after midnight, and the phone rang. No one calls at that time of night. It was my dad on the other end, and he could barely get out the words.
Jeff had taken his own life.
My eyes burst open. My breath jerked in. And my heart literally stopped beating.
All the questions raced to my mind, as I tried to make sense of it.
Then it hit me, I was supposed to have lunch with him tomorrow (actually that day) to celebrate his 40th birthday.
My heart sank.
As the days led on, it felt as though this massive hole in my heart that would never be filled.
As the past 11 years have passed, I realize, it’s not something you ever get over; it’s just something you learn to live with.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month.
Suicide is the #2 cause of death in males from 14-44 years old. Read that again…the #2 cause of death.
Most people know someone who has been affected by suicide.
Many people ask me how I got started speaking on burnout. When Jeff died, I couldn’t let it be in vain. There had to be a bigger reason or purpose. I vowed to do what I could to help.
Burnout and suicide. Are they even related?
Burnout can directly lead to suicide. Burnout also leads to isolation which leads to suicide.
Helping people with #burnout prevents suicide. I’m doing my best to ensure my brother didn’t die in vain.
What can you do?
Check on someone today. The person not in a great mood. The person who looks like they have it together. The person who is strong. The person who is happy and energetic. Sometimes the ones you think don’t need it are the ones who need it the most.
Next, stop. Pause. And check in with yourself. Be okay with sometimes not being okay and know where you can get help.
Support is important to prevent burnout and suicide. Tap into your community.
And know, I’m always here to help!
I miss my brother daily. I still long to have a conversation with him. I’m still listening to his advice and knowing he’s watching over B and me.
You need support. We all need support. Who can you rely on for it?
Others in your life need support too, so let them know they can count on you for it.
Who will you reach out to today and check on? Listening when someone needs it, offering to help, or sharing wisdom. You never know how much someone else might need just exactly what you have to offer.
And, you might just save a life.
#suicideprevention #burnoutprevention #preventburnout #suicideawareness
ABOUT JESSICA:
Jessica Rector’s mission is simple: transform lives.
Founder of Vitalize Unlimited, the first to market all in one product suite for preventing and addressing burnout, Jessica has worked with clients such as Fortune’s “#2 Best Company to Work For, NBCUniversal, and the Dallas Mavericks and uses first-hand research, experiences, and strategies to recharge your brain, extinguish burnout, and ignite your people.
As a researcher, keynote speaker, and #1 best-selling author of 12 books, Jessica consults with companies, trains teams, and speaks at conferences, conventions, and organizations helping you change thoughts, change your outcomes, and ignite the power within. She has shared the stage with Michelle Obama and has been recently featured on NBC and Dr. Phil’s Merit Street Network for her work and research on burnout.
When Jessica isn’t working, she enjoys spending her time with her 11-year-old son, Blaise, who is the CFO, Chief Fun Officer at Vitalize Unlimited and a best-selling author of three books.
Get Jessica’s recent book, Blaze Your Brain to Extinguish Burnout: 52 Tip to Prevent, Break Through and Eliminate Burnout at jessicarector.com. Connect with her on LinkedIn by CLICKING HERE.
Request a demo of Vitalize Unlimited or contact us at info@VitalizeUnlimited.com
