Building a Lifeline: Mental Health and Suicide Awareness in Construction

BONUS Episode: September is National Suicide Prevention Month in the USA. All month, mental health advocates, prevention organizations, survivors, allies, and community members unite to promote suicide prevention awareness.

In this special bonus episode of The EBFC Show, host Felipe Engineer-Manriquez digs deeper into the critical issue of mental health and suicide awareness in the construction industry. Featuring guests Brian Winningham and Thomas LaMay, the episode spotlights the tragic story of Alberto, a construction worker who took his own life, and explores the immense pressures faced by workers in the construction sector. Join us as we discuss actionable steps to foster a safer, more compassionate workplace and share personal experiences that underline the urgent need for mental health awareness.

00:00 Introduction to the Episode

01:28 Meet the Guests: Brian and Thomas

01:50 Brian's Journey in Construction

04:38 Thomas's Path to Construction Leadership

11:47 The Story of Alberto's Suicide

21:38 Mental Health in Construction: A Hidden Crisis

29:45 Recognizing the Signs and Taking Action

54:59 The Power of Small Gestures

56:33 Military Insights: After Action Reviews

58:19 Leadership and Worker Safety

01:00:24 The Importance of Mental Health in Construction

01:00:54 Challenges Faced by Women in Construction

01:02:23 The Reality of Construction Work

01:09:55 The Impact of Sleep and Substance Use

01:22:39 The Role of Therapy and Self-Care

01:44:58 Building Community in Construction

01:46:37 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Lifeline provides free and confidential support 24/7. Visit their website to connect with trained counselors who are ready to listen and offer help: https://988lifeline.org/

A Construction Suicide - Ranger Winnie
Read this heartfelt article sharing the personal story of a construction worker's tragic suicide and the urgent need for mental health awareness in the industry: https://www.rangerwinnie.com/post/a-construction-suicide

Gatekeeper Program at Boldt
Learn how The Boldt Company’s Lean Health Gatekeeper Program is proactively addressing mental health on construction sites through training and support initiatives: https://www.theebfcshow.com/lean-health-renee-wolf/

Thomas LaMay's Previous EBFC Show Interview
For more insights into Lean Construction, check out Thomas LaMay’s earlier interview where he discusses overcoming constraints in construction projects: https://www.theebfcshow.com/Constraints-Thomas-LaMay/

Connect with Brian via

LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/fielddrivenlean/

Connect with Thomas via 

LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaslamay/

Connect with Felipe via

Construction Scrum (book & audiobook) via https://constructionscrum.com/

Social media at https://thefelipe.bio.link

Subscribe on YouTube to never miss new videos here: https://click.theebfcshow.com/youtube

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The EBFC Show Intro Music: California by MusicbyAden https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden  

Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0

Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/al-california 

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/oZ3vUFdPAjI 

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