Suicide Prevention in Construction: Addressing Seasonal Mental Health Challenges

Description

Program Overview

The construction industry faces unique mental health challenges, with suicide rates significantly higher than the general workforce. This virtual lunch-and-learn will explore suicide prevention in the workplace, the seasonal patterns seen in mental health and substance misuse, and strategies to support workers during difficult times of year.

Emily and Mariel will give a presentation on suicide prevention within the construction industry. They will examine current data trends in Massachusetts, outline industry-specific risk factors, discuss effective prevention strategies, and provide an overview of available support resources.

Featured Speaker

Emily Sparer-Fine is the director of the Occupational Health Surveillance Program at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.  She oversees a state-based surveillance system, with areas of focus that include fatal occupational injuries, injuries to healthcare workers, and work-related lung disease. Her work also explores links between work and issues like overdose, suicide, cannabis production, and climate change. Her academic background is in occupational and environmental health with a focus on injury prevention. 

Mariel Batista is a Grant Program Manager with the Suicide Prevention Program at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. In this role, she has managed the CDC’s Comprehensive Suicide Prevention grant, with a focus on addressing suicide risk among disproportionately affected populations, including construction workers, Latinx men, military service members and veterans, and working-age men. She holds an academic background in Health Sciences and Health and Wellness Management.

 

Who Should Attend

• Construction safety professionals

• HR and wellness coordinators

• Union representatives

• Project managers and superintendents

• Anyone committed to strengthening mental health support in construction