Addressing mental health in roofing

By Jesse Sanchez. 

The roofing industry is facing a mental health crisis that’s often overshadowed by its physical hazards. 

In this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, host Heidi Ellsworth met with industry experts Monica Vornbrock and Melissa Chapman, co-founders of The GLO Group, at the Western Roofing Expo. The conversation took a critical turn when the staggering mental health statistics within the construction sector were unveiled. 

Melissa shared the alarming data presented at the legislative luncheon, “Well, it was astonishing and a little alarming to be honest when he gave us some statistics that in 2022 we lost 400 people from falls off the roof. And then come to find out, well, we lost 6,000 people to suicide.” For Melissa, it was a real wake-up call. “Contractors are tough. Contractors are tough,” she explained, recalling McKay Daniels’ speech. “They grit through, they push through a lot of adversity and challenges and they're tough enough to ask for help when they need it. And that's what we really want to encourage.” 

The discussion covered the cultural shifts needed within companies to foster mental well-being and proactive communication. Monica expressed the importance of bringing these issues to light, “I think that was the refreshing part of it. It is an alarming statistic. It is scary to see that it's happening, but it's so amazing to see that it's being brought up to the light, that somebody's speaking about it.” She and Melissa explained that creating a supportive company culture can have a significant impact, not only on mental health but also on a company’s bottom line. 

The GLO Group’s initiatives focus on leadership and communication to combat the industry's ongoing challenges, such as labor shortages and the adoption of new technologies. They believe a robust culture can retain employees and reduce costly inefficiencies. As Monica put it, “It connects directly to that mental health piece because then it helps avoid that burnout and feeling like the world is on your shoulders. Now you can share this workload with your team.” 

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about how The GLO Group is transforming the roofing industry and learn actionable steps to improve company culture!