At the request of our listeners, America’s Work Force Union Podcast brought back the interview with Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas from May 1, which began our Mental Health Awareness Month Coverage this year. In the episode, Dr. Sally discussed the state of mental health awareness in America and how unions can provide care and access to mental health, including the Man Therapy program.
During the conversation, Dr. Sally discussed how stress and culture on jobsites impact workers in the trades. It’s not just a generational thing, as workers, young and old, are pushing for better mental health care, she added. One in every five workers suffers from mental health issues, and the rate worsens for those in the building trades. Now is the time to take action to improve the care that union members receive and help reverse the negative life expectancy trend in the United States.
Death by suicide for union construction members is currently happening at a rate three to four times higher than in the general population, Dr. Sally said. To improve the culture around mental health, unions need to adopt the same strategy they have for improving workplace safety. These improvements start with better education for union members and leaders and ensuring there is a simple and safe way to seek helpful resources. To assist with these efforts, Dr. Sally has created programs for unions that focus on small daily conversations, like toolbox talks, to get the proper messaging to members.
There are always challenges when trying to engage with members around mental health, especially with men in the trades. Dr. Sally discussed Man Therapy, and Dr. Rich Mahogany, a unique approach that targets men seeking mental health assistance using a humorous approach to better educate. Dr. Mahogany, a made-up therapist, is a comedic approach to teaching men about the importance of self-awareness and how to perform a personal wellness check before seeking a therapist. Dr. Sally said this program has proven to be one of the most effective methods through their blind research and polling, and unions have adapted this program to fit their members’ needs.
Listen to the show above to hear more from Dr. Sally’s Mental Health Awareness interview. To learn more, please visit her website, SallySpencerThomas.com.