Address the Stress
- J.Anthony Tedpahogo
- 11 hours ago
- 5 min read
Fulfilling its commitment to provide streamlined resources that support employee health and wellness, Manson’s Employee Health and Wellness (“EHW”) Committee hosted a special company-wide mental health presentation titled “Address the Stress: Mental Health for You and Your Teams” in recognition of World Mental Health Day in October.
Highlighting one of the program’s core pillars—mental health—Northwest Office Manager Melanie Erdman, a member of the EHW committee, invited her friend and colleague, Mandi Kime. Mandi serves as Director of Safety of the Associated General Contractors (“AGC”) of Washington and co-chair of AGC of America’s National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Task Force. Together, they set out to educate and engage Manson employees in meaningful conversations about mental health in the workplace.
“I’ve worked with Mandi on several committees throughout the Seattle area and have always admired her relentless dedication to promoting good mental health,” Melanie shares. “I knew she would be an inspiring speaker for our employees on topics that are vital to our industry.”
With over 25 years of experience in mental health and suicide prevention, Mandi understands the significance of fostering a supportive culture, educating others, and spreading positivity, especially during stressful situations.
“The most important way to make a lasting impact is to empower and train individuals on what to do, while also helping them remember that they matter,” Mandi notes. “In our industry, there are many wonderful people who want to do the right thing and save lives but may not know where to start. My goal with this presentation is to help bridge that gap.”
The event, held at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, WA, welcomed nearly one hundred employees in person, with hundreds more joining via livestream from across the country. Attendees soaked up the expert guidance on creating self-care plans and learning effective techniques and actionable steps to understand available resources for safely deescalating a mental health crisis.
According to a 2023 study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among individuals ages 10-34, suicide claimed 47,500 lives, exceeding the 42,500 lost to drunk driving. Drug overdoses led to more than 98,000 deaths in 2023, a staggering 781% increase since 1999. Within the construction industry, 16 lives were lost on U.S. jobsites, including three due to drug overdoses and three to suicide. Across the industry, management and team members often lack the skills and knowledge to effectively support individuals struggling with mental health challenges and to connect them with helpful resources.
“We don’t discuss mental health as much as we should,” Mandi said, addressing the audience. “The purpose of this presentation is to save lives and introduce you to eight best practices that help AEC companies identify tools and resources available for you and your teams to address mental health concerns.”
Eight Best Practices
Based on interviews, presentations, and discussions with industry leaders who have implemented successful measures in the workplace, Mandi says the following eight practices, ranked by effectiveness, offer individuals the greatest opportunity to care for their own mental health as well as that of others:
Offer training in mental health.
Promote employee assistance programs.
Promote mental health through stand-downs or guest speakers.
Provide de-escalation or intervention resources.
Offer mental health assessments.
Talk about mental health regularly.
Implement a written program on mental health.
Post mental health signage around
Implementing these practices equips individuals and teams to proactively address mental health issues and foster a healthier, more supportive work environment.
Offer Training in Mental Health
Providing in-house or reliable third-party mental health training focused on taking care of mental health before a crisis helps individuals outline steps to reach out to programs and expert support, managing triggers that lead to mental health challenges.
Promote Employee Assistance Programs
Ensuring employees know mental health programs are readily available and easily accessible is an important tool in managing well-being. Manson’s employee assistance program (“EAP”), CANOPY, connects staff to professionals without unnecessary hurdles.
“Compared to other EAPs, CANOPY is nationally recognized as one of the better programs in the industry,” Mandi explains. “CANOPY is very well-rated to help people in a period of crisis because it takes care of most of the work to find network and care providers.”
Promote Mental Health
Inviting industry peers to share personal stories provides representation for those in similar workspaces and facing common issues, encouraging people to seek help.
“In our line of work, we spend more time with the people we work with than our families,” Mandi explains. “Bringing in a guest speaker who can relate to the type of work that people do and share personal experiences with mental health challenges that they may be going through may open up the door for them to seek assistance.”
Provide De-escalation or Intervention Resources
Just as important as mental health intervention, deescalation tactics can be challenging for people to implement. Providing resources through deescalation training can possibly save a life. While taking a deescalation course doesn’t automatically make someone an expert in providing support, reaching out to organizations like the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline connects people to a crisis counselor which can be lifesaving.
Offer Mental Health Assessments
Used to evaluate one’s mental state, these tests help individuals identify emerging or prevalent conditions and directs them to supportive resources.
Talk About Mental Health Regularly
Leading conversations with teams to foster human connection creates a sense of belonging. Regular check-ins and talks about mental health break the ice and reduce stigma around sensitive topics.
Implement a Written Program on Mental Health
Providing a written program on mental health serves as both a prevention and action guide for handling various situations, including recognizing signs of mental health and drug abuse.
Post Mental Health Signage around the Workplace
Posting signage can promote mental health by providing information, normalizing conversations, and creating a supportive environment. The location of the signage is just as important as the content. Posting signs on a bulletin board can jeopardize privacy, especially for those hesitant to seek help. Locations offering privacy, such as restrooms or breakrooms, are a much better option.
Taking Care of People
After wrapping up her presentation with a reminder for attendees to utilize the resources provided, people in the crowd spent time discussing the presentation and reflecting on what was learned.
“For me, I was really impacted by Mandi’s presentation and was reminded of how important it is to be more observant and to be aware of what people may be going through, on a daily basis,” says Senior Vice President and Chief Engineer Jeff Arviso. “Mandi was an outstanding choice because she was able to provide us with valuable insight to the many ways that Manson employees can save a life and just show that we care for each other.”