During Safety Week, CSPP was very busy traveling to different sites throughout the Northwest.
While our goal is to raise awareness around mental health and suicide, we also gain valuable insight into the realities construction workers face in accessing adequate care. We get a small glimpse into the difficulties they endure, helping us better understand the gaps in mental health resources—gaps we hope to help fill.
Here are some highlights and lessons I brought back from Safety Week:
Swinerton
I visited two Swinerton Construction sites, the PSU and HP sites. At PSU, the site was just in the early stages, with about 30 workers. According to Chris, the onsite superintendent, that number will grow to over 100 once the concrete is laid.
Chris, a veteran, shared his experience and noted how many in the trades have served in the military—making them more vulnerable to suicide risk. While I spoke about CSPP’s resources, Chris’s story made a visible impact on many of the workers’ faces.
At the HP site, over 100 workers gathered for lunch, a raffle, and a talk on mental health and suicide. After I spoke about CSPP, three workers shared their personal stories of struggling with mental health and suicide.
Hearing these stories from fellow workers helps destigmatize mental health challenges. The silent nods of understanding spoke volumes—quiet affirmations of “I’ve felt that too.”
We’d be lying to ourselves if we claimed not to relate to those feelings of struggle or sadness. Sharing lived experiences is how we begin shifting the construction culture and shaping a healthier future for workers.
Turner Construction
On Wednesday, I returned to Turner Construction’s site. Having visited it during earlier phases, it was exciting to see it nearly complete! I toured the apartments—soon to double as businesses—and was amazed by the progress. I was also heartened to see how many workers already knew about CSPP, which gives me hope that our message is reaching people.
Hillsboro Site
My next visit was to a site in Hillsboro, where I spoke about opioids and their impact on mental health. Many workers arrive by 5 a.m., commuting daily from places like Salem. Long commutes are a common trend in the industry. Even as an early riser, I found it tough to make it by 6 a.m.! Many workers shared that they work 10-hour days, six days a week, which tests the limits of their mental, physical, and spiritual health.
National Association of Women in Construction
I was also honored to speak at a webinar shared with National Association of Women in Construction members. Women face unique challenges in this industry, yet these women are among the most resilient I’ve ever met. It was truly a privilege to speak at their monthly meeting.
Holder Safety Week Vendor Fair
Lastly, I had the privilege of tabling at Holder’s Safety Week Vendor Fair. The event was full of food, music, games, and vendors that kept the crew engaged as they celebrated the final day of Construction Safety Week. I enjoyed connecting with the workers and hearing their stories.
We’re excited to return at the end of the month for our Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) training!
Final Thoughts
One of the challenges in suicide prevention awareness is recognizing the larger systemic issues, one that a small program like ours can’t fix alone.
Workers often don’t get time off, face extreme hours, or must relocate out of state for work, making consistent access to mental health care difficult. These are systemic issues beyond our control, but we urge leaders in construction to reflect on the conditions they create and consider how we can work together to change them.
Still, despite these challenges, we can do our part. Even without all the answers, we can listen. Listening is a crucial—yet often overlooked—aspect of suicide prevention. We encourage workers to voice their concerns and needs and to give one another space to talk and be heard.
Safety Week is just one week out of the year, but we believe that safety and mental health are year-round efforts!
If you are interested in having CSPP speak at your work or jobsite, you can email us at csppteam@linesforlife.org.
Thank you to all the companies we work with for continuing to share this message with your workers!
