Addressing mental health and suicide prevention with the Iron Workers

On the final day of National Suicide Prevention Month, America’s Work Force Union Podcast welcomed back Wayne Creasup II, Director of Health and Safety for the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers. Creasup discussed what the union is doing to address rising suicide rates in the union and the mental health resources available to members.

In 2016, there were studies released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) that showed the construction industry had a higher rate of death by suicide compared to the national average. In the construction industry, Ironworkers were near the top of the list. Creasup said that the studies showed that the construction industry was losing nearly 5,000 workers each year to suicide.

Creasup discussed several of the triggering events in the construction industry that cause stress and other contributing factors to suicide. He said the industry has taken action to lower the rate of suicides with resources like the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. While that helped raise awareness, it wasn’t doing enough, as only about 18 percent of workers know about 988, Creasup said. The Iron Workers and several building trades began providing talks at their conventions and handing out 988 help coins that members could keep with them in case they needed assistance.

Among the resources available to building trades members through crisis is a self-assessment through the Iron Workers Union and their Member Assistance Program, IMPACT. Creasup talked about the process a member would go through to take the self-assessment and how it could help a member seek assistance. He recommended visiting the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP) website nationwide, or 2 Tuff 2 Talk if you are seeking mental health resources in Northeast Ohio.

Listen to the show above to hear more from Creasup about mental health resources and suicide prevention available for people in the trades.