This mini-boom podcast on Mental Health and Safety highlights the importance of treating mental health with the same focus and intensity as physical health. In the United States, 1 in 5 adults experiences a mental health condition. With construction having one of the highest suicide rates, it's essential to check in with your coworkers and crew and demonstrate care about their well-being. Often, simply being present and listening can make a significant difference when helping someone in need.

In this podcast, we explore signs of mental distress and suggest simple ways to start conversations that can help people successfully navigate through mental health struggles and improve site safety.

Construction Careline

If you want to talk with somebody about personal and professional challenges, the Construction Careline is a confidential, non-judgmental, and safe space to get support for tough challenges.

Call 1-833-444-6020 (Available 24/7/365) to connect with someone who cares and who gets it.

To learn more about Construction Careline, please visit:
The Construction Careline

https://usconstructioncareline.org

To learn more about CSPP, please visit: The Construction Suicide Prevention Partnership.

If you are in crisis and need urgent support, you can call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, to speak with a trained crisis intervention specialist.

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April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and while we primarily focus on suicide in the construction industry, we must talk about alcohol and its impact on mental health. Construction workers are more likely to drink excessively, use substances, and face mental health challenges.

Construction has one of the highest rates of excessive alcohol use.
Nationally, alcohol intoxication is involved in 22% of all suicides. If we want
to reduce suicide within the construction industry, we have to talk about
alcohol’s impact on mental health. Our relationship with alcohol is
complicated.

If we want to build a safer, more connected, and healthier construction industry, we’ve got to dig into how alcohol impacts our relationships and health.

In this mini-boom toolbox talk, we discuss strategies to shift our perception of alcohol use and how to rethink the construction industry's relationship with alcohol.

If you want to talk to somebody about your alcohol, substance use, or mental health or are concerned about the well-being of somebody close to you, we have listed some helpful resources below.

Alcohol and Drug Helpline | Call 800-923-4357 (24/7/365)

Lines for Life’s Alcohol and Drug Helpline serves anyone who needs information, support, or access to resources and treatment for alcohol or drug use. The Alcohol and Drug Helpline is free, confidential, and available for calls 24/7/365.

Construction Careline

If you want to talk with somebody about personal and professional challenges, the Construction Careline is a confidential, non-judgmental, and safe space to get support for tough challenges.

Oregon Residents call: 503-433-7878
If you are outside the state of Oregon, you can call 1-833-444-6020
Available 24/7/365

To learn more about Construction Careline, please visit:
The Construction Careline

To learn more about CSPP, please visit: The Construction Suicide Prevention Partnership.

If you are in crisis and need urgent support, you can call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, to speak with a trained crisis intervention specialist.

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Opioids In Construction

Recent data indicates that construction workers have one of the highest rates of opioid overdoses. They are also 20% more likely than the general public to receive opioid prescriptions, often for stronger opioids. Why is this the case? The construction industry is labor-intensive by nature, and hard physical labor often leads to chronic pain. With the pressure to meet deadlines and stay within budget, workers may not have the time to take off for proper healing and care. Opioids can help workers manage chronic pain and remain on the job, but this comes with the risk of addiction, potential overdose, and an increased risk of suicide.

In this mini-boom toolbox talk, we discuss the impact opioids are having on the construction industry and the steps individuals and companies can take to address opioid misuse and abuse.

If you or someone you know is using substances or dealing with addiction, Lines for Life offers around-the-clock support from compassionate, nonjudgemental professionals; please reach out to the Alcohol and Drug Helpline at 800-923-4357.

If you want to talk with somebody about personal and professional challenges, the Construction Careline is a confidential, non-judgmental, and safe space to get support for tough challenges.

Oregon Residents call: 503-433-7878
If you are outside the state of Oregon, you can call 1-833-444-6020
Available 24/7/365

To learn more about Construction Careline, please visit:
The Construction Careline

To learn more about CSPP, please visit: The Construction Suicide Prevention Partnership.


If you are in crisis and need urgent support, you can call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, to speak with a trained crisis intervention specialist.

Support the show