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EP 67: Mental Health Awareness (Pt. 1)…with Lea Rummel

⏱️ 33:52 🎀 Barb Allen, Leah Rummel
AUDIO EPISODE
EP 67: Mental Health Awareness (Pt. 1)…with Lea Rummel
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Chapters

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  • 0:00
    Welcome & Shout Outs
    Barb welcomes listeners and gives shout outs to women in construction and the '14 Percenters' subscription box.
  • 1:09
    Mental Health in Construction
    Barb introduces the episode's focus on mental health, noting May as Mental Health Awareness Month and the high suicide rates in construction.
  • 3:22
    Lea's Construction Journey
    Lea shares her unexpected path from a temp front desk position to an electrical estimator at Rudolph & Sletten.
  • 11:20
    Mentorship & Sponsorship
    Lea discusses the combination of her drive and crucial support from mentors and sponsors in her career advancement.
  • 25:00
    CM Certificate Impact
    Lea explains how pursuing a Construction Management certificate broadened her understanding and solidified her career choice.
  • 41:40
    Mental Health Passion
    Lea reveals the personal tragedy that ignited her passion for mental health awareness and suicide prevention in construction.
  • 53:20
    Proactive Prevention
    Lea emphasizes her proactive approach to improving mental health resources, not out of blame, but a desire for future prevention.
  • 1:02:26
    Learning & Sharing
    Lea details her steps to learn more about mental health initiatives, including the Mental Health First Aid training, and the importance of industry sharing.
  • 1:13:31
    Alarming Industry Stats
    Lea shares impactful statistics on suicide rates in construction, highlighting the need to integrate mental health into safety protocols.

Speakers

B
Barb Allen
Host
L
Leah Rummel
electrical estimator at a general contractor, Rudolph & Sletten

Key Takeaways

✦

Prioritize mental well-being in the workplace; construction has the second-highest rate of death by suicide, making it a critical area for improvement.

✦

Actively foster a supportive work environment where employees feel comfortable discussing mental health concerns without stigma.

✦

Invest in mental health resources and benefits, ensuring they are accessible and widely promoted to all employees, including those from unions.

✦

Consider offering Mental Health First Aid training to employees to equip them with skills to identify and support colleagues in mental health crises.

✦

Integrate mental health into existing safety programs, recognizing that psychological safety is as crucial as physical safety on job sites.

✦

Encourage leaders and managers to share their own experiences with mental health, creating a culture of openness and reducing stigma for employees.

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Collaborate with other contractors and industry organizations to share best practices and collectively improve mental health initiatives across the construction sector.

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