Social worker for state mental health agency dies by suicide in building on Connecticut Valley Hospital campus
Hartford CourantFeb 22, 2019
The employee had worked for the
Her suicide occurred on the morning of
After her body was found, the mental health agency sent out a critical-incident stress management team, a group of trained agency employees who help co-workers deal with the immediate aftermath of a traumatic emergency. The chaplaincy unit also offered counseling.
In an email to colleagues dated Thursday, DMHAS Commissioner
She "was a compassionate social worker with incredible skills that she put to good use navigating systems for our clients. She was funny, kind and always willing to take a moment to listen. She will be greatly missed," Delphin-Rittmon wrote.
She encouraged employees to take advantage of counseling.
"It is important that we all work to take care of ourselves and each other during this difficult time," Delphin-Rittmon wrote. "I encourage any staff who are having a hard time with coping with the loss of our friend and coworker, or any other matter, to reach out" to employee assistance programs.
The state senator who has led the call for increased oversight of the mental health agency following a patient-abuse scandal at
"This is heartbreaking news," Sen.
She wondered whether the death at Russell Hall related to employee stress levels, and said one of the goals of increased oversight at Whiting and of the mental health agency was to help "ensure the mental and physical wellbeing of both patients and staff."
The social worker was listed in payroll records as a behavioral health clinician manager, a position that pays
Agency police and
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