Brief Description:

Mental health is an invisible crisis in construction. Before the pandemic, construction had issues with mental health, substance misuse, and suicide. The uncertainty of COVID-19 created major stress, anxiety, and worries among workers and their families. Nationally in the construction industry, more workers die annually by suicide than by all occupational injuries combined.  Learn how a culture of caring and wellbeing can reduce the serious risks of substance misuse and suicide.  This session focuses on WHY these topics are an imperative for construction leaders at all levels. Learn what you and your organization can do to help promote mental wellbeing and reduce risk of suicide among your workforce and our industry.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn how a caring culture reduces stigma associated with mental health, builds psychological safety in the workplace, and removes barriers to seeking and accessing care. 

2. Learn best practices to incorporate mental health and suicide prevention into the functions and practices of Human Resources, Employment Benefits and Wellness, as well as Risk Management, Safety & Health.

3. Learn how to initiate conversations regarding mental health and suicide prevention in the workplace and at home.

Intended Audience

CFOs and all Construction Financial Professionals (CFPs) and Staff, including Controllers and Accountants, as well as Human Resources & Safety Directors and senior business and operational leaders of construction stakeholder firms.

Cal Beyer, CWP is Vice President of Workforce Risk & Worker Wellbeing for CSDZ, a Holmes Murphy company. Cal has over 30 years of experience in safety, risk management and wellness. He serves on the Executive Committee of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention; the Expert Advisory Group of the Center for Workplace Mental Health; and the Lived Experience Advisory Committee of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. Cal is a past national officer and Executive Committee member for the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) and the recipient of the Danny Parrish Leadership Award in 2016 and the Chairman's Award in 2017. He was instrumental in the formation of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention. He is a frequent presenter at industry events and a frequent contributor to industry publications. Beyer can be reached at cbeyer@CSDZ.com or via cell phone at 651/307-7883.