EARN Newsletter: September 2026

Resources to support mental health and recovery at work, plus a Spotlight Q&A with the National Safety Council.

EARN in Action

New Resource: Suicide Prevention in the Workplace

Suicide remains a leading cause of death, affecting thousands of American workers and their families. This Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, EARN is releasing a new learning guide, “From Awareness to Action: Suicide Prevention in the Workplace.” The guide includes practical strategies employers can use to recognize suicide warning signs, communicate with and connect at-risk workers with available supports, and foster a work environment that reduces risk factors and promotes help-seeking behaviors.

Supporting Recovery in the Workplace

National Recovery Month in September is a good reminder for employers to communicate their support for workers experiencing substance use disorder (SUD). EARN and the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) developed two resources that can help people get the help they need to achieve and sustain recovery: “Supporting Employees with Substance Use Disorder: A Guide for Employers,” which offers proactive strategies businesses can use to prevent and address worker substance use, and “A Guide for Workers with Substance Use Disorder: What You Should Know,” which addresses the topic from the worker’s perspective.

Supporting Mental Health and Recovery in Small Businesses

Small businesses with limited time and resources can still take action to support employee mental health and recovery. EARN’s “Small Business Guide for Supporting Employees with Mental Health Conditions or Substance Use Disorder in the Workplace” outlines seven practical, cost- and resource-effective strategies employers can use to foster a supportive workplace, reduce stigma, and support workers’ mental health and well-being.

Supporting Mental Health and Recovery in the Construction Industry

Construction workers face unique workplace situations that can increase the risk of mental health conditions, substance use disorder, and opioid misuse. EARN’s “Opioid Use and Mental Health in the Construction Industry: The Importance of Workplace Supports” resource explores these challenges and offers strategies employers can use to promote safer workplaces, reduce stigma, support worker mental health and recovery, and connect employees to support and services.

In the News

A Message for America’s Workers and Employers

This September, U.S. Department of Labor leaders have an important message for America’s employers and workers: There is a path to recovery, and it includes work. The Department’s Acting Secretary Keith Sonderling and the leaders of four other Labor Department agencies, including the Office of Disability Employment Policy, recorded a heartfelt message of support and commitment to help American workers in honor of National Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

How to Raise Awareness of Recovery and Suicide Prevention in Your Workplace

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers a variety of resources to help you recognize National Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in your workplace. Check out SAMHSA’s toolkits for key messages, weekly themes, sharable graphics, virtual backgrounds, and other ways to recognize September’s important observances within your organization and convey a culture of support.

ABLE Accounts: Making Work Pay

With historic numbers of disabled Americans entering the workforce, the U.S. Department of Labor has tools at the ready to help workers save what they earn and build financial freedom. The Department’s new Make Work Pay Hub offers a one-stop shop for financial literacy guidance and information on valuable tax-advantaged savings accounts, such as Trump accounts and ABLE accounts. Plus, the hub features a new sharable video that explains exactly how ABLE accounts work to help disabled Americans earn and save without losing needed benefits. Employers and HR professionals can share the video with employees, at conferences, or even in the lobby of their business to spread the word.

Spotlight Q&A

The National Safety Council

In recognition of National Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, EARN sat down with Claire Bryant, MPH, CHES, Senior Program Manager III of Workplace Safety Programs at the National Safety Council (NSC), to discuss the role employers play in supporting worker mental health, substance use recovery, and well-being. Claire shared practical strategies for reducing stigma, creating recovery-friendly workplaces, and supporting workers while maintaining workplace safety. 

Q: September is National Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Why is this an important opportunity for employers to think about their role in supporting workers’ mental health, well-being, and recovery?

A: On average, workers in the U.S. spend a quarter of their time in the workplace. Employers have an opportunity to play a pivotal role...

Continue to the Full Q&A

For more from NSC, watch EARN and NSC’s recent webinar, “Building a Mentally Healthy Workplace: Guidance and Practical Tools for Safety Professionals,” which explores best practices and practical tools for supporting worker mental health.

EARN is fully funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy under Cooperative Agreement No. 23475OD000002-01-00 with Cornell University's Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability, in the amount of $11,000,000.

The content in this newsletter does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.