Raising awareness about mental health issues in the workplace is crucial, but it is not enough on its own. Taking action is equally important. Awareness alone does not create tangible changes or provide support for employees who are struggling. Workplace mental health program development should go beyond simply acknowledging the issue and actively work to implement strategies that promote mental well-being, reduce bias, and provide resources for support. By taking action, organizations can create a culture of care, where employees feel supported and empowered to seek help when needed. Action-oriented programs make a real difference in improving mental health outcomes and creating a healthier work environment for everyone involved.
In this interview I speak with workplace mental health advocate Steven Frost. Steven shares these three tips for a quick start to building a workplace mental health program are:
Gain Leadership Buy-in: A message of unwavering support from key leaders empowers a cultural shift
Develop a Diverse Team: Mental health champions’ voices must be heard.
Gather Resources: Upstream, midstream and downstream
About Steven Frost
Steven Frost is the current CWC ASSP President-Elect. He joined the construction safety world after obtaining a Master’s in Environmental Studies. He also obtained a certification in Construction Management and is a LEED AP BD+C, CHST, ASP, and CSP. Steve is a Question Persuade Refer (QPR) Gatekeeper instructor as well as a QPR Master Trainer. Steven felt drawn to mental health and the impacts to the construction industry.
Construction is the second highest at-risk occupation group that sees risk factors; many of which can lead to thoughts of suicide. Steven has made it his mission to help reverse that statistic.
Construction is a complex industry that can be high stress and physically demanding. It is also known for being "tough". “I often discuss an approach to this industry that may be duplicated and tailored to other industries.”
Steven is recognized nationally for his work on suicide prevention and mental health initiatives. He brings his advocacy to this organization by speaking at the monthly membership meetings, conducting QPR sessions as Professional Development Courses, and coordinating meetings that promote Positive Job Culture and Diversity Equity and Inclusion. Steven actively promotes mental well-being resources for the American Heart Association’s Hard Hats with Heart where he contributes as an Ambassador. It is through this program that Steven has contributed to videos, webinars, and given testimonials. He promotes the link between physical and mental well-being. “By taking care of your heart, you’re taking care of your head” His modules can be shared as a tool to help build awareness, resiliency, and to start the conversations for suicide prevention where stigma and silence are perceived as common.
Show Notes
Definitions
Lived Experience: “People who have direct experience with suicide have an important role to play in suicide prevention. These individuals—including suicide attempt survivors, others who have experienced a suicidal crisis, and those who have lost a loved one to suicide—can be powerful agents for challenging prejudice and generating hope for people at risk.” https://theactionalliance.org/our-strategy/lived-experience
Postvention: “Postvention is psychological first aid, crisis intervention, and other support offered after a suicide to affected individuals or the workplace as a whole to alleviate possible negative effects of the event. 2 A suicide death of an employee is only one type of suicide that could affect the workplace. The suicide death of clients, vendors, or a family member of an employee can also have a profound impact.” https://workplacesuicideprevention.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/managers-guidebook-to-suicide-postvention-web.pdf
Lethal Means: “A key component that has proven to be effective is to reduce access to lethal means – particularly firearms, the leading method of suicide here and across the nation. If there are no means available to that person to act on their decision, like large amounts of medication or an unsecured firearm, then the likelihood that that person will die by suicide drops significantly.” https://www.gettrainedtohelp.com/en/home/calm
Safe Messaging: “It addresses “public messaging”: any communications released into the public domain. From posters, PSAs, and social media to websites, newsletters, fundraising appeals, event publicity, press interactions, public talks, and advocacy efforts, each contributes to the public’s perceptions about suicide and suicide prevention.” https://www.suicidepreventionmessaging.org/action-alliance-framework-successful-messaging
Construction-Specific & Workplace Resources
H.O.P.E. Certification https://www.hopecertification.com/
American Heart Association, Hard Hats with Heart:
Construction Suicide Prevention Partnership
o https://www.suicide-stops-here.org/
Construction Working Minds
o https://www.constructionworkingminds.org/
Workplace Suicide Prevention
o https://workplacesuicideprevention.com/
Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention
o https://preventconstructionsuicide.com/
Suicide Prevention and Postvention Resources
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
National Alliance for Suicide Prevention:
Works by Dr. Sally Spencer-OThomas:
o https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/portfolio
Oregon Alliance to Prevent Suicide https://oregonalliancetopreventsuicide.org/ysipp/
Oregon Health Authority: “Youth Suicide Intervention and Prevention Plan”
Examples of Helplines
Call 988 National Crisis and Suicide Lifeline
Disaster Distress: 1-800-985-5990 (press 2 for Spanish), or text TalkWithUs for English or Hablanos for Spanish to 66746. Spanish speakers from Puerto Rico can text Hablanos to 1-787-339-2663.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522
National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4AChild (1-800-422-4453) or text 1-800-422-4453
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or Online Chat
The Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116
Veteran’s Crisis Line: 988 1-800-273-TALK (8255) then press 1 or Crisis Chat or text: 8388255
Find a health care provider or treatment for substance use disorder and mental health
SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) and TTY 1-800-487-4889
Interactive Map of Selected Federally Qualified Health Centers
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for English, 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish, or Lifeline Crisis Chat
Health and Human Services: Dial: 211 https://www.211info.org/
