Continuing our coverage of Mental Health Awareness Month, business agent and coordinator for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825 Member Assistance Program (MAP), Chris Lalevee, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the work he’s done to create the program for Local 825 and promote mental health awareness among members.
Construction workers die by suicide at a rate of nearly 4-to-1 over the general population. Lalevee talked about many of the contributing factors to mental health issues in the industry and how they contribute to the large disparity. He said simple steps like creating awareness of potential risk factors are the first step to building mental health awareness. Lalevee discussed what he did to educate himself on the warning signs and how he’s used this knowledge to help members of Local 825.
Local 825 has been working with members and leaders to develop its MAP program since 2017. Lalevee talked about how the program came about after realizing he was working with several members who were going through some personal problems. From these initial conversations the program took its next step when Lalevee began working with Kyle Zimmer from IUOE Local 478 in Connecticut in 2019, he said. After joining forces with Zimmer, Lalevee talked about the program's evolution and how it’s now being applied by the International at their training center in Texas.
IUOE Local 825 represents just under 8,000 members in the heavy highway and construction sector throughout New Jersey and New York’s Hudson Valley. Lalevee has been with the Local since he turned 18. He worked as a crane operator until being hired into the referral hall of the Local in 2013. He became a business agent in 2020, where he represents Hudson County, N.J. Lalevee created and serves as the MAP coordinator for Local 825 after working to develop the peer-based, 100 percent confidential program.
Listen to the show above to hear more from Lalevee on 825’s MAP work and how you can speak with him about helping your members.