Despite facing challenges like physically demanding work or the constant push for excellence, one challenge is often overlooked in the construction industry—mental health.
The United Association was a proud presenting sponsor at the fourth annual Construction Working Minds Summit in Dallas, Texas.
UA VIP Program Manager Mike Hazard, several UA VIP instructors and graduates and UA members from across the country were in attendance to share their personal experiences and listen to others share theirs. 
The pre-conference was held on Feb. 24 and 25, with the actual conference on Feb. 26 and 27. During the pre-conference, UA VIP staff attended the Peer Support Group Facilitation Certificate Training.
This year marked Fort Campbell Fire Suppression Instructor Kyle Shrum’s first time attending the summit.
“I found the summit very interesting,” Shrum said. “Getting to know new people throughout the UA and getting to hear all of their stories really shows how passionate they are about their careers and how eager everyone is to help others.”
Ezra Saint-Peter, Fort Carson Welding Instructor, has attended multiple summits before and said this one has been the best so far.
“I enjoyed this year’s event and I was thrilled to see what appeared to be more people in attendance than in years past, indicating a cultural shift in the construction industry’s attitude toward mental health and suicide prevention,” Saint-Peter said.
Connor Higgins, a JBLM Welding Class 1 graduate, left the summit feeling more knowledgeable and excited to apply what he learned to the job site.
“There were a lot of discussions about suicide which I have experienced recently on a jobsite,” Higgins said. “I found that information to be helpful and I wish I had known about it sooner.”
The summit brought together industry leaders, mental health advocates and construction professionals to address the industry’s mental health crisis.
Hazard and other building trades representatives participated in the ‘Mental Health Building Blocks for the Building Trades” panel, where panelists shared why they became so involved in improving mental health awareness and what their unions are doing to help their members.
UA VIP’s commitment to mental health
UA VIP’s involvement in the summit was a testament to its proactive approach to addressing mental health challenges in the trades.
The UA VIP program, which provides transitioning military service members with free career training in welding, HVACR and fire suppression, is a prime example of how the UA equips individuals with the tools they need to succeed–not just in their careers but in life.
As the industry moves forward, UA VIP’s efforts will undoubtedly inspire other organizations to follow suit, ensuring that mental health is no longer a taboo topic but a cornerstone of a thriving, resilient workforce.
VIP MAP has adopted a holistic approach that encourages a help-seeking and help-giving environment. The UA VIP MAP resources offer assistance to anyone who may be struggling.
These resources have also helped VIP instructors, enabling them to identify and support students who may be struggling. No one should suffer in silence!
Construction Working Minds is expected to continue growing, increasing awareness of the mental health challenges prevalent in the construction industry.
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