Monday, October 3, 2022

Making Mental Health a Priority

Speaking to Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMEP) pipeline workers in Hope, BC, on the topic of mental health in the workplace

Guide Magazine

By Carter Sawatzky

This past summer, Josh Brink, a CLAC representative in the Langley Member Centre, spoke to over 1,200 members and their contractor employers on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMEP) pipeline in Hope, BC, on the topic of mental health in the workplace.

CLAC signatory Kiewit Energy Construction Co. ULC first approached Josh to present on the topic at a mass safety meeting. His presentation at TMEP Spread B was centred around normalizing mental health discussions and removing the stigma around the topic while ultimately encouraging and empowering members to look out for each other.

In addition to showcasing the various CLAC resources and mental health services available for members, Josh emphasized that the best support available for TMEP members are the people working with them on site.

“Look to your fellow colleagues, recognize where there could be challenges, and shift communication from ‘it’s fine, get over it,’ to genuinely asking the question, ‘Hey buddy, how are you really doing?’” he told members.

On traditional pipeline construction projects, workers are typically at the work site for two to three months. But TMEP Spread B is different in that it is a long term project spanning several years. The project is in its second year with approximately two more to go. Members often see their fellow members more frequently than their families.

“People work until they’re burnt out and then they’re done,” says Josh. “There’s lots of stigma in the construction industry around mental health. More knowledge and information need to get out there.”

Unaddressed mental health problems bring many risks. For the TMEP Spread B Project specifically, it means a greater turnover rate as the project continues to lose quality people who are proficient in their trade. For members, substance use struggles exacerbate mental health concerns. Due to social stigma, workers feel they must tough it out. This stigma harms members as they feel they must battle their struggles alone.

“There is a critical barrier between management and the workforce that must be overcome,” says Josh. “If there is to be any positive change in the construction industry, it is imperative that employees feel comfortable enough talking with their coworkers andsupervisors. Management and the workforce have an opportunity to come together to look for root causes.”

While mental health education is a good start, the information shared at a presentation can be overwhelming for folks, particularly those not accustomed to the fast changes that have rapidly altered the conversation around mental health.

“It is important to give people the time to adapt, accept, and incorporate the new knowledge around mental health into their everyday lives and conversations,” says Josh. “Changing the workplace culture is not a one-and-done event. As much as mental health is increasingly recognized, we need to learn how to manage mental health problems well and live with them in
positive ways.”

Making Mental Health a Priority

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