Construction industry lays foundation to support mental health

HealthConstruction

Sep 3

As awareness of critical mental health issues in the construction industry grows, West Michigan Works! and its Construction Careers Council, will host Building Minds: A Conference on Mental Health in Construction. The free event aligns with Construction Suicide Prevention Week and will take place on Thursday, September 12, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Postma Center at Pine Rest, 300 68th Street SE, Building C, Entrance C2.

“Those who are close to the construction industry know that safety is priority number one and mental health is closely tied to that,” said Meg Mathis, Marketing, Dan Vos Construction and member of the Construction Careers Council at West Michigan Works!. “A person’s mindset has a lot to do with how they approach their profession and their daily personal life.”

According to the 2023 Michigan Suicide Prevention Commission Annual Report, men accounted for 80 percent of the 1,482 suicide deaths in Michigan in 2021. In the Michigan construction and extraction sectors, men hold approximately 97 percent of positions, making mental health a particularly pressing issue in this industry.

The conference will provide attendees with tools to evaluate and improve workplace mental health practices through expert presentations, networking opportunities and connections with community resources.

Speakers include Mark Dyke, Professor and Counselor, Ferris State University: Offering guidance on recognizing when you or someone else needs help; Sean Egan, Deputy Director of Labor, Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity: Discussing strategies to build resilience in the workplace and the impact of work on mental health; Steve Huizinga, President, Freedom Construction: Sharing personal experiences with depression, anxiety, and addiction, emphasizing the importance of mental health awareness; and Josh Zoerhof, Pastor and Counselor: Addressing signs of stress and burnout, and actionable steps to manage them.

“Mental health as it relates to our industry is a critical topic from which we want to continue to remove the stigma and make it easier to move forward with the best type of help,” said Mathis.

The conference is supported by the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity, Michigan Rehabilitation Services, Barton Malow Company, Dan Vos Construction Company, Kent County Health Equity Council, Disability Awareness Resource Team, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

To register for Building Minds: A Conference on Mental Health in Construction, visit https://www.constructioncareerscouncil.org/building-minds.