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.

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The construction industry has the second highest rate of suicide. Yet, the stigma associated with being vulnerable about personal struggles or asking for support remains a major roadblock to reducing suicides. Addressing stigma head-on can encourage workers to get help and reduce suicides.

In this mini-boom toolbox talk, we discuss ways to destigmatize mental health challenges and promote supportive and help-seeking behaviors.


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

It is 2025, and BGTS is back with a new episode featuring Emily Haro, CSPP's Outreach and Engagement Coordinator. We discuss her background and 2024 highlights and share news about new CSPP resources and upcoming podcasts for 2025!!

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

You can also reach out to the Alcohol & Drug Helpline at 800-923-4357.

To learn more about the CSPP, visit: Construction Suicide Prevention Partnership – reducing suicide and promoting mental well-being in the construction industry (suicide-stops-here.org)

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We are thrilled to share our dynamic conversation with Paul Diaz. Paul is a Business Representative with Iron Workers Local 29. With nearly twenty years of experience in ironwork, Paul brings a fascinating, heartfelt, and engaging perspective to mental wellness and suicide prevention.

In this episode, Paul lays out how Iron Workers Local 29 is promoting suicide prevention, creating a more positive job culture, and forging pathways to help and support.

We appreciate Paul sharing his on-the-ground, up-in-the-air, and gritty perspective on how ironworkers are addressing substance abuse and suicide.

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

You can also reach out to the Alcohol & Drug Helpline at 800-923-4357.

To learn more about the CSPP and Boom Goes The Stigma, visit: suicide-stops-here.org

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We are thrilled to share our conversation with George Carrillo. George was the former Executive Director of LatinoBuilt. He is now the Chief Executive Officer of the National Hispanic Construction Alliance. He is a staunch advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) with deep expertise in labor relations and union contracts. He works to challenge inequitable policies and actively dismantle institutional norms through strong alliances with community-based organizations and state legislature to advocate for social justice and equitable representation.

We had a broad and reality-based conversation. George brought the "boom" with an empathetic, insightful, and comprehensive assessment of the challenges facing Hispanic professionals in the construction industry.

We appreciate George laying out the fundamental challenges facing Hispanic construction professionals and sharing solution-based strategies to uplift and improve their work experience and their lives.

If you need support or feel distressed, there is always hope and help. You can call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, to speak with a trained crisis intervention specialist.

You can also reach out to the Alcohol & Drug Helpline at 800-923-4357.

To learn more about the CSPP and Boom Goes The Stigma, visit: suicide-stops-here.org

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We are excited to share our conversation with Rebecca Garza. Rebecca is a Health Promotion Strategist at the Oregon Health Authority. She supports strategic communications and mobilization initiatives and is the lead for the Rethink the Drink(RTD) brand. Rebecca earned a Master of Science in Medical Anthropology and Cross-Cultural Practice at Boston University School of Medicine.

Rebecca shared Oregon's innovative approach to addressing excessive alcohol use in Oregon. We enjoyed learning about the thinking, research, and approach behind RTD's mission to help communities across Oregon Rethink the Drink.

We dive into how RTD is helping CSPP raise awareness and create dialogue in the construction community. They have helped us craft a fun and informative approach to a serious and complicated issue.

Please check out their resources at https://www.rethinkthedrink.com, and you can find construction-specific Rethink the Drink materials here.

Rethink the Drink is creating a thoughtful and engaging dialogue around alcohol and building a new framework for thinking about alcohol.

We appreciate Rebecca taking the time to talk with us!

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

You can also reach out to the Alcohol & Drug Helpline at 800-923-4357.

To learn more about the CSPP and Boom Goes The Stigma, visit: suicide-stops-here.org

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