Who would have thought construction would lead the way on workplace mental health? Not tech, not healthcare, not corporate America. Construction. Sonya Bohmann, Executive Director of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention, joins Dr. Sally to share two lessons every industry needs: move from awareness to action, and make mental health a 12-month-a-year conversation.
For every 1,000 construction workers who die on a job site, over 11,000 die from overdose. Narcan saves lives, but it only works after an overdose has already happened. Dr. Virna Little, co-founder of Zero Overdose, joins Dr. Sally to show workplaces how to prevent the event in the first place.
Veterans die by suicide at higher rates than the general population, and most are working at the time. Alicia Scovill, a veteran and construction workplace expert, joins Dr. Sally to unpack why visible performance isn't the same as wellbeing, and why veteran-friendly workplaces need systems, not slogans.
When a team member says they're not okay, most managers do one of five wrong things. Mitch Wallis, who has trained over 10,000 leaders across Microsoft, KPMG, and American Express, shares the five-step ELSA-B model and the single mindset shift that separates managers from leaders who actually change people's lives.
Most leaders attack habit change like a business problem: make a plan, take action, get results. But Dr. Abby Medcalf says that's exactly why it fails. Whether it's alcohol, sugar, or any high-stakes habit, lasting change doesn't start with what you do. It starts with getting radically honest about why you want to change.
Who would have thought construction would lead the way on workplace mental health? Not tech, not healthcare, not corporate America. Construction. Sonya Bohmann, Executive Director of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention, joins Dr. Sally to share two lessons every industry needs: move from awareness to action, and make mental health a 12-month-a-year conversation.
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: Messaging of unwavering support from key leaders empowers cultural shifts
Develop a Diverse Team: Representative champion's voices must be heard.
Gather Resources: Upstream, midstream and downstream
