Mental Health Awareness
The Construction Industry Accounts for 20 percent of the Nation’s Suicides
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the construction industry has the second highest suicide rate among major industries, as 53 out of every 100,000 construction workers die by suicide per year.
Additionally, construction workers represent about 25 percent of fatal opioid overdoses among all workers.
The LMCT is Here to Help.
Suicide is no longer a taboo subject in the union construction industry, especially in the Insulators Union. Through our partners YouTurn Health and All One Health, we are seeking to provide our Brothers and Sisters with the help they need.
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ToolBox Talks
Stress Management and Burnout
According to a 2022 study by the American Psychological Association, 72 percent of U.S. adults have experienced stress so severe that it impacts their health.
- Why it is important to talk about stress management.
- Questions to facilitate a discussion around stress management.
- Information on the YouTurn Health program and how to access it.
ToolBox Talks
Suicide Prevention
- Why it is important to talk about suicide prevention.
- Questions to facilitate a discussion around suicide prevention.
- Information on the YouTurn Health program and how to access it.
Suicide Prevention
Risk Factors/Warning Signs
Risk factors include:
- Mental illness in the individual or their family
- Traumatic events
- Being a military member, first responder or construction worker
- Not having a strong support system
- Substance use
- Bullying
- Social isolation
Warning signs may include:
- Increased isolation
- Talking about being a burden
- Mood swings
- Anxiety or anger
- Expressing hopelessness
- Making comments about “leaving” or “dying”
How to Help Someone Who Is Struggling
Here are some ways you can help with suicide prevention
- If and when you can, reach out to that person at work or school who seems lonely and might need a friend.
- Strengthen bonds with those you feel comfortable with and be vocal about your love and support. Let people know that you are a safe person for them to confide in and are willing to be a person that can open up to.
- If you know someone that you think might be struggling, ask them directly.
- If someone confides in you, help them find support and resources.
- Start with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. They can call or text 988 or join an online chat at 988lifeline.org.
Veteran Mental Health: How to Get Help
Serving in the military can be stressful and traumatic, and our heroes may come home with both mental and physical wounds. The U.S. has recently made some progress in making a push to improve veteran mental health, but we still have a lot of work to make sure our military vets get help for the invisible wounds that mental health issues leave.
Substance Use Disorders in Military Veterans — Problems Associated with Access to Care
Between 27 percent and 44 percent of veterans say that the transition from military to civilian life was difficult for them. Veterans face many physical and mental health impairments that lead to increased struggles when transitioning to life as a civilian.
Read one vet’s recount of his experience with mental health, substance use and reintegration into society.
Treating PTSD and Processing Stuck Memories
Over the course of their lives, about 6% of Americans will experience Post-Traumatic Distress Disorder (PTSD), and as many as 29% of military veterans experience symptoms of PTSD during their lives.
PTSD occurs when either you or a loved one is exposed to a life-threatening, traumatic situation. “You define whether it was life-threatening,” explains Richard Jones, Chief Clinical Officer at Youturn Health. “Your perception of the event is what’s important.” This traumatic situation could be a one-time event or it could be something that happens over and over again.
Relapse Prevention Podcasts
Veterans suffering with PTS get a helping hand from this Dynamic Duo
Tom and Jen decided something had to be done and the work they did together training and preparing warriors to fight overseas turned into a mission of helping warriors and their families fight the silent war and to heal from it on the homefront. The Satterly’s founded All Secure Foundation in August 2017 as a resource library for helping warriors and their families navigate the maze of treatments and modalities of healing from PTS. They have worked individually with hundreds of warriors and their families and soon became more than a referral website but also a provider of education, awareness, and programs for healing.
Marine Corps Veteran Turned Cowboy Michael Parker
Michael Parker is a Marine Corps veteran, turned cowboy, entrepreneur and mental health advocate. After leaving the Marines, Michael struggled with his mental health, leading to incarceration and multiple suicide attempts.
Driven by a desire to understand his mental health and take back the reins in his life, he started searching for alternative ways to heal, besides medication. He discovered his healing through nature and horses. The same selflessness that led him to enlist fueled him to help others gain a “second chance” in their lives.
In 2019, Michael set out on his journey to bring his dream to life, creating Second Chance Rehabilitation Ranch.
Michael is also the host of Second Chance Podcast where he interviews veterans, first responders, and mental health advocates, sharing their stories to help listeners find hope and a fulfilled life on the other side of mistakes and trauma.