To begin Mental Health Awareness Month, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, noted psychologist, program trainer and speaker, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the state of mental health awareness in America. She also spoke about how unions can provide care and access to mental health, including the Man Therapy campaign.
Dr. Sally discussed the general state of mental health in America and how the stress and culture in the work environment are impacting workers in the trades and how the younger generation has seen a stronger push for proper mental health care. Dr. Sally said that one out of every five workers suffers from mental health issues, and now is the time to take action to improve the care that union members receive. She added that America is the only country with an inverse life cycle, meaning residents are dying younger each year, and one of the contributing factors is declining mental health and suicide.
For union construction members, death by suicide is currently happening at a higher than average rate than the general population, nearly three to four times more often. Dr. Sally said that unions need to adopt the same mentality they used to improve the culture around workplace safety. Part of this effort starts with proper education for members and leaders, ensuring there’s a simple and safe way to seek the resources needed. To assist with the education and culture changes, Dr. Sally’s work with unions includes programs focusing on small daily conversations like toolbox talks to get the necessary messages to members.
Finding a way to engage with union members is always challenging, especially with men in the industry. Dr. Sally talked about Man Therapy, a unique approach that targets men who face several barriers—personal and cultural— when trying to seek mental health assistance. Using a made-up therapist, Dr. Rich Mahogany, the efforts provide a humorous approach to educating members on the importance of self-awareness and how to perform wellness checks on themselves before seeking a therapist. She said this has proven to be one of the most effective ways based on their blind research and polls, and many unions have adapted this program to help members.
Listen to the show above for more information on mental health in the building trades. For more information on how Dr. Sally works with unions, please visit SallySpencerThomas.com.