Shining Light on Mental Health in Construction

Description

When & How to Talk to Construction Workers About Suicide Prevention
 
Mental health is an invisible crisis in construction. Nationally in the construction industry, more workers die annually by suicide than by all occupational injuries combined. The uncertainty of COVID-19 created major stress, anxiety, fear and worries among workers and their families. Learn how a culture of caring and wellbeing can reduce the serious risks of mental health, substance misuse and suicide. 
 
This session focuses on when AND how to talk to construction workers about behavioral health. This will help your organization break the stigma around mental health. The session will highlight  12 specific opportunities to talk to construction workers about mental wellbeing, substance use disorders, Employee Assistance Program, and suicide prevention. The session will include an overview of the LEARN Saves Lives® model for engaging workers in discussion around suicide prevention.
 
Learning Objectives:

• Why mental health, substance use disorders and suicide prevention are an “invisible crisis in construction”
• Illustrate how to address mental health and wellbeing as construction safety and health topics
• Identify the industry and demographic risk factors that lead to suicide 
• Discuss stigma reduction strategies and techniques
• Understand the services available from an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Teach the LEARN Saves Lives® model for safety conversations

Meet the Speaker:
Cal Beyer, CWP, SCTPP; Vice President; Workforce Risk & Worker Wellbeing

• Works in national role for CSDZ, a Holmes Murphy Company
• Over 30 years as safety/health and risk management professional; dedicated to construction since 1996
• Launched mental health & suicide prevention initiative in construction industry in 2014 while working for a contractor in WA state that became the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (https://link.edgepilot.com/s/aebb6c32/XsAAWIwtH0WzYpojyE1dCA?u=http://www.preventconstructionsuicide.com/)
• Serves with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention since formation in 2010 and its Executive Committee since 2016
• Partners with the Center for Workplace Mental Health as an Expert Advisory Group member
• Recognized by Engineering News-Record (ENR) as a Top 25 Newsmaker for 2016 for work with suicide prevention