As we head into the holiday, this episode marks our last mini-boom. For our season finale, we tackle loneliness. Loneliness is the negative feeling that arises when you crave human connection. While we all feel lonely at times, chronic loneliness—especially when linked to depression and anxiety—can isolate us and lead to a downward spiral in our thoughts. People experiencing suicidal thoughts often feel incredibly alone in their struggles. With suicide rates rising in the construction industry, addressing loneliness is essential to tackling this serious issue.

In this mini-boom toolbox talk, we discuss effective, long-term strategies for combating loneliness.

We will be back in 2026 with a new series of full-length episodes!

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 understands.

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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This month's mini-boom is on Mindful Breathing. This is a practical and free tool that can be used at any time. Mindful breathing is a powerful strategy to help you focus on the present moment.

Focusing on your breath involves observing each inhale and exhale. This practice can reduce stress by lowering your heart rate and engaging the parasympathetic nervous system (the body's calming system).

While it may seem easy to "just breathe," stressful or threatening situations often cause us to forget to breathe properly, leaving us feeling out of control and panicked.

This is when mindful breathing becomes especially helpful. You have nothing to lose by simply focusing on your breath--you can practice with us on this mini-boom!

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 understands.

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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This month’s mini-boom focuses on four ways to prevent suicide. The construction industry has the second-highest suicide rate compared to other occupations. Given these sobering statistics, it is crucial to address this issue and implement strategies to prevent our workers from dying by suicide.

We lay out how to break stigma, recognize warning signs, reach out and connect, and know your resources.

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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A holistic approach to safety, embracing the body/mind connection, paying attention to our thoughts, valuing sleep, and eating well. Numerous distractions abound in our job sites. Construction sites are not wellness retreats, but there are ways to sharpen our focus and ease mental tensions. On and outside the construction site, we will never control everything that happens, but we can develop a present-focused mindset that increases our cognitive flexibility, enhances our connections, and improves our mental health.

In this mini-boom podcast, we share some tips for being in the moment. In construction, safety requires us to hold two opposing ideas( job productivity and self-care) in our minds and still retain the ability to function. Being present is like walking a steel beam; breathing and pausing can help balance dynamic paradoxes where safety isn't just mitigated but mastered.

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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In construction, we rely on Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) to respond to
incidents on the job site. When it comes to individual struggles with mental health, professional relationships, finances, and overall health and
wellness, there is another EAP that can help us navigate through these
issues. It is called an Employee Assistance Program. EAPs. EAPs are
confidential services that can assist you in resolving personal problems
that are impacting your work performance. Think of EAPs as your emergency action plan when you need help or advice to deal with professional or personal matters.

In this podcast, we explore how EAPs can help address mental health struggles, address stress, and improve your overall well-being!

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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We know that sleep is essential to a healthy lifestyle, but in the construction industry, getting quality sleep can be challenging due to long work hours, shift changes, family responsibilities, and commuting. Sleep affects our mental and physical health, as well as our ability to work safely. Lack of sleep contributed to catastrophic workplace accidents like Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and the Challenger Explosion. Sleep deprivation contributes to 1 in 10 job site accidents, so it is vital to prioritize getting good quality sleep.

In this podcast, we discuss the importance of sleep, share tips on improving your sleep hygiene, and provide some tools to help your crews link sleep with 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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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.

Support the show