We Need to Talk About It: Suicide Prevention

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter.  

Takeaways from Sue Drummond’s breakout session at NWiR Day about one of the most pressing issues in the industry. 

Construction comes with plenty of hazards, but we don’t always acknowledge the mental health aspect of the job. Did you know that construction workers are more likely to die by suicide than all other job site hazards combined? 

It’s not an often-discussed subject in construction, but mental health in the workplace is clearly a pressing issue within the industry. That's why Harness Software’s Sue Drummond held a breakout session at National Women in Roofing (NWiR) Day that asked us to look at one of the biggest issues of the industry and gave us the tools to talk about it.  

It cannot be stated enough how important it is to focus on mental health and have these conversations even if the conversation can feel awkward and uncomfortable. Sue highlighted in her session “we have to talk about it. This is too important to ignore because it isn’t fun to talk about.” Getting rid of the stigma and culture that makes it harder for those around you to ask for help or admit how they feel is the first step towards preventing suicide. 

The truth is, statistically someone on your crew is probably struggling right now. Sue suggested throughout her session that we be thoughtful about what we are saying and ensure it will encourage your co-workers or employees to talk to you about these difficult topics instead of discouraging it.  

The breakout session provided participants with plenty of opportunities to express and share ideas and concerns surrounding their mental health programs, featuring a brainstorming session where everyone told the group what their company does for mental health and how it has helped. Everything from offering mental health days to carving out time for one-on-one check ins with employees was suggested as excellent ways to make mental health a priority within your company. 

Although talking about suicide and mental health is a serious topic, Sue shed a lot of light on the subject and promised those in the session that there is hope. By focusing on mental health of employees and making improvements to company culture, we can prevent suicide and create a better safety program for all employees.  

Sue offered everyone in the session the Construction Mental Health Toolkit; The one resource you need to start focusing on building mental health into your safety program and critically assessing how company culture is contributing to your employee's mental health.  

Inside the toolkit you will find: 

• A template letter to management outlining the issue and the reasons taking action makes smart business sense. Sue was clear that these kinds of programs need an advocate if they are going to become a big part of the company culture. Reminding your company that these programs not only save lives but make your company an attractive atmosphere to work in can help incentivize building mental health into safety programs.  

• A step-by-step guide to improving the mental health at your company. This is a top resource for ensuring that you have happier and healthier employees. For anyone looking to save lives and improve the atmosphere at work, look no further than this guide to start working on this issue today.  

• Top toxic company culture factors found in the industry and ways to eliminate them. Focusing on mental health not only helps suffering employees, but improves the lives of all employees. After all, focusing on mental health is a guaranteed way to attract and retain employees. 

• Warning signs and appropriate ways to respond. Sue covered symptoms throughout the session, reminding us that the toolkit would help us start having these hard conversations that can be lifesaving. 

• Mental health wellness check to offer your employees for self-screening. A great strategy to ensure that employees get access to help when they need it is to build self-screening for employees to focus on how they are doing. Sue recommends having mental health checks become as normal as toolbox talks, as they catch when people are struggling with their mental health before it becomes a life-threatening issue.  

• Questions to ask during a supervisor check-in, and how to respond. Talking about these issues can be hard, that’s why this toolbox offers information and insight into how to respond and conduct these conversations professionally.  

• Three mental health toolbox talks with Spanish translations. Sue stressed the importance of having these resources available in employees' first languages. When we are already so stressed, mental translation can be just another thing that exhausts us. Providing resources in someone's first language makes a huge difference and shows how much you care about their wellbeing. 

Making these changes in the toolkit is a sure way to improve your company culture and save lives, resulting in healthier and happier employees. You don’t have to have attended the breakout session to benefit from Sue’s presentation. Harness Software, as a leader in the construction health and safety industry, believes they have a moral obligation to help fight this epidemic in every way possible. So, they offer the toolkit for free with no obligation.  

The toolkit includes all the information covered in Sue’s session and does the legwork for you; all you need to do is implement it. Download the toolkit today. 

If you’d like to talk to someone about your mental health or that of a loved one, these resources are free, confidential and available 24/7. 

• Crisis Text Line: Text “hello” or “help” to 741741

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 800-273-8255  

Learn more about Harness in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.harnessup.com.