09/10/2026
Losing someone to su***de hits differently when you’re their leader.
You can replay the conversations. The signs you missed. The moments you wish you had handled differently. You can wonder if you should have called, checked in, or noticed something sooner.
As a leader, you carry your people with you. So when someone in your squad is gone, you don’t just lose a teammate—you carry the weight of wondering what more you could have done.
I’ve learned that leadership isn’t just about the mission, training, or being the person with the answers. Sometimes it’s simply knowing your people well enough to recognize when something is wrong—and having the courage to ask, “Are you really okay?”
We need to talk about this more. Not just after we lose someone, but before.
Because the people standing next to you matter more than the mission ever will.
***deawarenessprevention ***depreventionmonth