While representing sheet metal and HVAC contactors at meetings of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP), I was fortunate to work with representatives from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. One primary area of focus for both CIASP and SAMSHA is suicide prevention but there are other facets of the topic that affect workers including mental health and substance abuse (misuse). Prevention is a very important part of these issues, and these organizations have numerous related resources (see list at the end of this article). However, it is also important to understand and appreciate the aftermath of these concerns.
One project we worked on was establishing a “988” three-digit phone code for mental health and substance abuse emergencies which became available in the USA as of July 2022. Like the current “911” for fire, police and medical emergencies, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. This initiative and phone code is a welcome addition to the resources available to those in need. Please share this 988 lifeline information with your family, friends, and co-workers.