Every September, Suicide Prevention Month shines a light on the importance of mental health and reminds us that struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts affect individuals worldwide, including entrepreneurs.
The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), a global network of founders, recently published an article sharing deeply personal stories from members touched by suicide. Among them was myHR Partner CEO Tina Hamilton, who courageously shared her journey of loss, grief, and healing.
“At age 15, I moved out on my own. By 17, I was already a mother,” Tina recalls. “As a single parent, I was young and unprepared when I was introduced to the harsh realities of mental illness through my son’s diagnosis: Depression, psychosis — words I had never known — became daily battles. Together, through countless treatment centers and sleepless nights, we learned to survive the storm.”
“At 35, my son, Anthony, a husband and father, chose to end his life with a shotgun. That moment shattered time. The news tore through me like fire, leaving behind a silence that screamed. I loved him fiercely. We grew up together. How could he leave his children? How could he leave me?”
In the years that followed, Tina wrestled with grief, anger, and sorrow. Slowly, she came to a difficult but illuminating understanding: those who are truly suicidal often believe their absence is a gift to the world.
“Over the past eight years, I’ve come to accept his decision. Anthony’s pain was relentless. His demons were louder than love, stronger than hope. Peace was a place he could never reach.”
Part of Tina’s healing included time at a wellness sanctuary in Thailand, where she learned from a former monk that “Our suffering is our own to resolve.” That lesson helped ease her guilt and continues to guide her both personally and professionally.
“I joined EO the same year Anthony passed because I knew I needed to find a place where I belonged. And I have.”
Tina’s story is one of many shared by EO members during Suicide Prevention Month. You can read the full article, including other powerful perspectives, on EO’s website.
Stories like Tina’s remind us that mental health challenges impact not only individuals but also the workplaces they are part of. HR has a vital role in creating supportive environments where employees feel safe to speak up, access resources, and find community. At myHR Partner, we believe that fostering empathy and connection in the workplace is one of the most powerful ways to support both people and business health.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis in the U.S., call or text 988 immediately.
You can also chat with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988lifeline.org.
Internationally, visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention to find crisis support resources by country.