Executive Director of the United Labor Agency, Dave Megenhardt, and Clinical Director for the ULA’s Counseling Center, Alicia Boreman, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the organization's new mental health counseling program and the other services the center is providing to Cleveland-area workers.
The construction industry is nearly five times more likely to suffer from mental health issues and suicide, even higher in the construction trades. To address this, the ULA has been working on a program to address mental health and encourage potential workers to utilize their services. After extended conversations, Megenhardt said the organization created an in-house counseling center for workers. Boreman was hired as the program director and shared what the program could do for Cleveland’s workers.
The services offered at the Center are focused on serving all workers in Cleveland and are available in person and virtually. Boreman discussed some available services, including 1-on-1 counseling to family counseling. The program aims to improve the quality of life and employability of the workers utilizing the ULA’s services. Megenhardt discussed the program's support and how he expects to see future growth of the counseling center.
Finally, Boreman discussed how the pandemic has increased the need for mental health counseling and how these services could help someone. The need for health professionals is growing as many counselors have entered the private sector to find better-paying work. While the stigma of mental health still hangs in the air, ULA’s Counseling Center is hoping to change the narrative and provide community members with the tools needed to support people around them in their search for counseling services.
To hear more about the ULA’s work to improve mental health in Cleveland workers, listen to the show above.