Suicide Prevention

September Is Suicide Prevention Month: Look Out for Your Brothers and Sisters

One Union. One Family. One Fight.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and Local 159 is using this month to talk openly about an issue that affects our entire construction industry family: the mental health and well-being of our members.

We spend a tremendous amount of time talking about, OSHA, and safety on the jobsite—and for good reason. We train our members to recognize hazards, speak up when something is unsafe, and look out for the person working next to them.

We need to bring that same mindset to mental health.

District Council 16 believes strongly that mental health is part of safety.

All DC16 Business Representatives and Organizers recently completed Mental Health First Aid training, paid for by District Council 16. The training gave our staff practical tools to recognize warning signs, have difficult conversations, and connect members with appropriate resources.

Most importantly, we were taught not to dance around the subject when someone may be in crisis.

We were trained to ask directly:

“Are you thinking about suicide?”

“Are you thinking about killing yourself?”

Those questions can feel uncomfortable. But if someone is struggling, asking the question does not put the idea in their head. It opens the door for an honest conversation and gives that person an opportunity to tell someone what they are going through.

Our representatives and organizers are often among the first people a member talks to when something is wrong. We want to be prepared to recognize when a member needs help and know where to send them for that help.

District Council 16 Is Investing in It’s Members

DC16 has a dedicated Director of Mental Health and Addiction, James Boster, whose job is to help members and their families navigate mental health and substance-use challenges. James works through the DC16 Helping Hands program to connect members with resources, education, treatment, and support.

📞 (925) 409-1525
✉️ jamesb@dc16iupat.org

The Helping Hands program is built around a simple idea: no member or family should have to face these problems alone. DC16 provides support for mental health, substance use, and addiction, including connections to counseling and treatment resources. The program is confidential.

Local 159 EAP: Behavioral Healthcare Options

Local 159 members and their families also have access to Behavioral Healthcare Options (BHO) through the Employee Assistance Program.

BHO can provide confidential assistance with mental health, substance use, family concerns, and other personal challenges. To access the EAP, call:

Behavioral Healthcare Options – EAP
📞 1-800-280-3782

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental-health or substance-use crisis, don’t wait. Reach out.

If someone is in immediate danger or experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911. If you are thinking about suicide or need immediate crisis support, call or text 988.