Today marks Blue Monday and the beginning of Bell Let’s Talk Week. This is a time to remind ourselves that mental health matters.
Ian Robb, Director of the BTA’s Building Resiliency Program shares the story of Logan. Logan was an ambitious skilled trades worker with his life ahead of him. His story is sadly one of many tragedies that occur when workplaces are not equipped with the tools to support the mental health wellness of workers.
We as unions believe that every worker deserves safe working conditions, including psychological safety. That is why the BTA is working through the Building Resiliency program in partnership with TELUS Health and Headversity to change how we deal with mental health struggles in our industry and ensure that these tragic stories are not repeated.
Through Building Resiliency, the BTA is empowering our affiliates, contractors and owner partners to build a mentally resilient industry. We are training peer supports on jobsites and union halls to help get workers the resources they need. We are providing free access for Building Trades members to a digital tool through Headversity that offers private and confidential training to build skills and take control of their mental well-being.
The Government of Alberta has seen the value of Building Resiliency and has done an incredible job of funding this innovative program to address the mental health barriers facing our industry. We thank Minister Dan Williams for his support and hope to see the government continue to back this crucial initiative.
This is just a small clip of a fascinating discussion on Headversity’s Beyond the Checkbox podcast. Follow the link for the full interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvKiABMA-RI. You can also check out their show on any of your favourite podcasting platforms.
Click here to learn more about Building Resiliency: https://buildingresiliency.bta.ca/.