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Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights May 5th

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of May 5, 2025

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at the importance of why your voice as a worker matters when it comes to cuts at NIH and CDC—to the increase in suicides of women in the field of medicine—to the concept of “ableism” in the workplace. This week I would like to take this opportunity to examine—with May upon us—the topic of ‘psychological safety’ in the construction industry. In short, PS is based on the belief that a worker—at any level—will not be punished for speaking up with ideas, asking questions, or making mistakes.

 

The construction industry in Canada, not unlike the US, has more recently embraced the need to address mental health and white/blue-collar employee well-being in the workplace.[1] With a lack of mental health professionals available in the North American marketplace, more companies and unions are starting to develop their MH talent internally. In order to do so requires an organization to make strategic shifts in attitudes from top to bottom. Why? Because people at the top want to know that a venture of this scale must attempt to garner a positive return on investment (ROI). This cannot be achieved without first doing one’s homework.

 

Once an internal MH champion has been identified (and skilled up), s/he must begin this journey by surveying employees across the spectrum, developing targeted awareness programs, tracking inputs/outputs, and evaluating outcomes…these all come at a cost.

 

In a still male-dominated industry like construction, there are attitudes and traditions that exacerbate stigma. From physical strain of the work to insecurity brought on by seasons to the hazing (bullying) as a ‘right of passage’ to the macho notion of not asking for help, workers in this industry can be exposed to issues of anxiety…which sometimes leads to depression. So, because of the aforementioned stigma, many workers deal with these MH issues on their own…as in, self-medicate (i.e., alcohol, drugs, etc.). At first, it is just a means of ‘coping’ but, sadly, this route often results in building a (negative) habit and, eventually, an addiction.

 

Opening up discussions in safe spaces/places is one of the first steps towards building a ‘culture of care’ which emphasizes the importance of relationships and emotional support in your workplace. Organizational change requires individuals who are open to new ideas/methods. This process can begin by first acknowledging that a worker’s mental well-being is just as important as her/his physical health. Let’s commence this journey by completing and sharing MHA’s Checklist below.[2]

 

Please check out the rest of this week’s blog: https://moworksinitiative.org/category/worker-wellness-news/

 

Sources: [1] https://www.thesafetymag.com/ca/topics/psychological-safety/breaking-ground-on-psychological-safety-in-construction/533792?utm_medium=email&utm_source=rasa_io&utm_campaign=newsletter

[2] https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25.04.22_MHAM_Checklist.pdf?utm_source=marketo&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=mham-2025&utm_term=mental-wellbeing-weekly&mkt_tok=NzczLU1KRi0zNzkAAAGaK_wSQklPo4tOX5mijUcWR_dUzvd9eu9UXss7vLGDV_zCD1v_HwHjWnNljNx7NMqO07ZUAYCy_fmRWZlwinhYCF5Qx4RCVTIZGzOZV1_JPe4

 

MAY is Mental Health Mon

 

Construction & Psychological Safety

 

OR / Cahoots / Trouble

 

CDC & NIOSH Cuts: Impact on Workers

 

NIH Cuts: Future Cancer, Dementia Research

 

MO / Naloxone / Misguided Politicians

 

The Rise of Cocaine

 

Drugs & Cartels: US – Mexico Differences

 

DANGER: Ketamine

 

Female MDs & Suicide (1)

 

Female MDs & Suicide (2)

 

More on NIOSH Layoffs & Worker Safety

 

Teens / Fake Nudes / Impact

 

30-Minutes / Weight Training

 

15-Minute Strength Routine

 

Building Resilience

 

Gratitude / Resilience / Hope

 

Life Experiences & Secrets

 

Another Retired NFLer & CTE

 

Defunding Public Media

 

Deaf Students & Funding Cuts

 

School Funding / MH Cuts

 

Immigration Crackdown & Worker Shortages

 

DOGE & Nuclear Secrets?

 

Musk / DOGE / Negative Polls

 

States / Paid Sick Leave / Ignoring Voters

 

Gambling on a Pope

 

Tour de France & Workers’ Strike

 

L-M Workers Strike

 

SEIU / CA /Strike

 

Google / CWU / London

 

Journalist / Russia / Death

 

Japan / Declining Population / Impact

 

Investing in Apprenticeships

 

Goal: 1m Apprentices

 

More on College v Trades

 

MWI’s ARP Rock Stars

 

STL Labor Leaders Serve New Mayor

 

Recruiting in a Flooded Market

 

What does Ableism Look Like?

 

SCOTUS / Schools / Disability & Discrimination

 

What is Duty to Cooperate?

 

Tech Workers & Dissatisfaction

 

Canada: Home-based Work

 

Construction Hiring Dips

 

Retirees & Side Gigs

 

More on Tipping

 

Viet Nam War’s Impact on US

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.

STL Foodbank

 

Change & MH (5/6)

 

Spirituality & Suicide Prevention (5/19)

 

QPR for Ag (5/22)

 

Cannabis & Ethical Dilemmas (6/3)

 

12-Minute Mindfulness Podcast

 

Supporting those Impacted by Suicide

 

Understanding Addiction: Families

 

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.

May 5, 2025/by Dr. John Gaal
https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/iStock-697895326.jpg 779 1345 Dr. John Gaal https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png Dr. John Gaal2025-05-05 15:11:252025-05-05 15:11:25Wellness & Well-being Highlights May 5th
In the News, Partner Spotlight

Partner Spotlight: Anna Witte

Building pathways and partnerships for a stronger workforce.
Missouri Works Initiative is proud to highlight organizations and individuals who we partner with to help our Apprenticeship Ready cohorts prepare for a career in the trades.

—

Anna Witte is all about helping people find their next step—and she’s been a fantastic partner to Missouri Works Initiative in doing just that.

As a University Relations Specialist at Spire, Anna works on the company’s Workforce Development Team, connecting with schools and community organizations to help students and job seekers learn the skills they need to succeed in professional trades. With a background in supporting college students, she’s brought that same guidance into the world of workforce development.

Spire—serving over 1.7 million homes and businesses across Missouri, Alabama, and Mississippi—takes its mission seriously. Spire is,”an exciting place to work and build your career,” says Anna. “Safety and care” are core to the company’s culture, and that commitment has landed them on Newsweek’s list of Most Responsible Companies for six years running.

Anna sees firsthand how today’s job seekers face real obstacles. She says, “adapting to the demand for diverse, specialized skills…many face barriers to accessing quality training programs, limiting their growth potential.” But she’s hopeful about what’s possible. “By investing in equitable education, apprenticeships, and vocational programs, we can empower workers, close skill gaps, and foster a more inclusive, resilient workforce.”

Her journey with Missouri Works Initiative began through conversations with union leaders at Gas Workers Local 11-6, who were looking to support recruitment efforts. After a conversation with MWI Executive Director Megan Price, Anna was all in. “I was hooked,” she says. “I got involved with MWI because of the focus on training and upskilling workers, especially diverse talent, which benefits the community as a whole. Spire’s values of safety and integrity are echoed by the MWI programs and their students.”

Anna and her team support MWI through Spire Serves, a program that gives back through direct investment, employee volunteerism, and matching donations. “We invest our time and resources in organizations that enrich the lives of those we serve and MWI is an example of that. Working together, we can help present career opportunities across Missouri.”

She’s seen how the work we do together makes a difference. “I think MWI is addressing so many needs of workers. First, by helping workers who may not have otherwise pictured themselves in skilled trade careers find their path forward. Additionally, the skills taught in the MWI program—both hard and soft skills—help students be more ready to enter the workforce and hit the ground running on day one.”

Anna’s commitment to this work is clear, and we’re so grateful for the energy and insight she brings to our mission. “Providing support services while going through programs like this can be life-changing and meeting those needs is impactful and important,” she says. “We’re helping financially meet some of those needs through our Spire Serves grant and helping show alternative pathways forward.”

Thank you, Anna, for being such a champion of Missouri Works Initiative—we’re proud to partner with you!

April 29, 2025/by Missouri Works Initiative
https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png 0 0 Missouri Works Initiative https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png Missouri Works Initiative2025-04-29 17:41:482025-04-29 17:41:48Partner Spotlight: Anna Witte
In the News, Partner Spotlight

Partner Spotlight: Sue Smith

Helping Springfield job seekers find their path—and their power.Missouri Works Initiative is proud to highlight organizations and individuals who we partner with to help our Apprenticeship Ready cohorts prepare for a career in the trades.

—

Sue Smith knows a thing or two about helping people find their way into meaningful careers. She’s a Certified Workforce Development Professional with the City of Springfield’s Workforce & Economic Vitality Missouri Job Center, where the mission is all about connecting local talent with the industries that need them most, including construction.

Sue brings a background as a career educator into her current role as a Workforce Development Specialist. She’s part of a team working hard to support job seekers in Springfield, especially through apprenticeship programs made possible by the Apprenticeship Building America grant. She’s also helped several local businesses create Registered Apprenticeship Programs in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor—no small feat!

Sue was first connected to Missouri Works Initiative when training to become a proctor for the National Career Readiness Certificate, a credential earned through assessments that measure basic workplace skills and verify an individual’s foundational skills for workplace success. Sue’s trainer referred her to Missouri Works Initiative as “one of the best we had to offer” at the Missouri Job Center.

Since then, Sue’s become a key partner in our work. She helps in all kinds of ways—from interviewing potential candidates and supporting enrollment to prepping program graduates for the job hunt with resume reviews, mock interviews, and real-talk guidance. Her insight and encouragement mean the world to our cohort members who are ready to get to work and build a career for themselves.

Sue’s deeply aware of the challenges workers face today. She says, “One of the biggest challenges facing workers in Missouri and in general is accessing and affording the necessary training to enter or advance in a specific career. While many industries increasingly require specialized skills and certifications, the cost of training programs can be a barrier for individuals. Additionally, navigating the variety of available training options and identifying those that align with career goals can be overwhelming. The lack of awareness about resources, such as grants, apprenticeships, and employer-sponsored training, can further hinder workers’ ability to pursue the skills needed for high-demand careers.”

That’s exactly why we’re so grateful for partners like Sue. She helps break down those barriers and connect people with the resources they need to succeed.

One story that sticks with her? “I had the opportunity to help a single mother who wanted to transition from office work to a career in construction,” Sue said. “She was seeking a path that would not only provide a living wage for her family but also allow her to take pride in her work. After completing the Missouri Apprentice Ready (MAR) program, she advanced to the IBEW pre-apprenticeship program…This experience has been life-changing for her, offering stability, financial independence, and a sense of accomplishment.”

Sue also has great things to say about the program itself, “I believe the Missouri Works Initiative is effectively addressing the needs of workers by offering a comprehensive 5-week program that provides foundational knowledge about the construction industry.” Says Sue, adding “It allows individuals to explore multiple career pathways within the industry before committing to a specific trade, helping them make more informed decisions.” 

She gave a special shoutout to Austin Fox, our Construction Programs Manager and Springfield Instructor: “Austin Fox is an amazing leader of this strong program.”

We’re so lucky to have Sue as a partner. Her experience, commitment, and heart help make Missouri Works Initiative what it is—and we can’t thank her enough.

April 29, 2025/by Missouri Works Initiative
https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png 0 0 Missouri Works Initiative https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png Missouri Works Initiative2025-04-29 15:48:242025-04-29 16:25:20Partner Spotlight: Sue Smith
Work life balance
Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 28th

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Apr 28, 2025

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at the importance of connection for older men—to the health benefits of taking a vacation—to the positive impact Pope Francis had on everything from social justice to climate change to international diplomacy. (I tip my hat to the late Pope who reminded us that, “A bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.”) This week I would like to take this opportunity to examine potential changes to workforce laws and systems that directly affect workers across the spectrum.

 

In general, readers should take note that Trump gets a second bite at the apple with regards to apprenticeship.[1] In his first term, Trump tried to push through an alternative system of registered apprenticeship known as IRAP (industry-recognized apprenticeship programs). Truth be told, this was nothing more than a ‘rubber stamp’ credential with little to no oversight from US-DOL’s Office of Apprenticeship field reps (known as ATRs) and/or workers. Sadly, this IRAP completion credential’s certificate would mirror that of the RAP (registered apprenticeship programs) while unfortunately driving down its longstanding value in the US marketplace. To those of us who are products of RAP-affiliated trade programs in the Midwest, IRAPs will do more harm than good since quality control differs from company to company. The beauty of the ‘tried and tested’ RAP system is that oversight comes from 3 perspectives: labor, management, and government…which equates to a known value based on area standards and thus stability. In the proposed IRAP system, a company could solely design the entire apprenticeship without input from the workers and as mentioned earlier, little to no input from regional ATRs. Growing apprenticeship for the sake of pumping up numbers at the expense of quality outcomes is just another example of how a lack of transparency leads to more conflicts of interest. And, in the past 100 days, haven’t we had enough of this kind of chaos?

 

From a more specific standpoint, one needs to consider how states and their governors are dragging our workplaces back to the early 1900s. How? Just take a few minutes to read the article linked below pertaining to Florida’s DeSantis attempt to repeal Child Labor laws…under the façade of worker shortages.[2] Yes, I acknowledge some sectors have a shortage of workers but putting children at risk of losing lives or limbs is NOT the way to address this matter. Yes, I also acknowledge that not all jobs or industries are as dangerous as construction or mining. To the former, these laws were established—for the most part—as reactions to children losing their lives or being permanently scarred in factories, mines, etc. To the latter, I ask why is it so difficult to fill those job slots? As cited in this article, people who work in resorts need not be immigrants. OK, then maybe it is time management considers its corporate culture and compensation packages in order to attract today’s teenagers. Since our future is in the hands of our children, it is high time we live by our words: Safety First!

 

Sources: [1] https://www.ccdaily.com/2025/04/washington-watch-trump-signs-executive-order-on-workforce-programs/

[2] https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/florida-child-labor-laws-restrictions-cc8fda67?st=9hbMH9&reflink=article_gmail_share

 

National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week

 

Mental Health for All

 

Work & Well-being: Is it Slipping?

 

CT Scans & Cancer

 

Bupe & Addiction

 

Reducing Post-workout Soreness

 

Older Men & Social Connection

 

12-Minute Meditations

 

Sleep Trends: DOs and Don’ts

 

Money, Anxiety, and Sleep

 

Science & Intermittent Fasting

 

Protein: Fact v Fiction

 

Thunderstorms: What not to do

 

Why take a Vacation?

 

Sabbaticals: A Tool for Worker Burnout?

 

Addressing TBIs in Older Adults

 

Labor in Limbo: Gutting FMCS

 

Supportive Union Members in Denial

 

Fed Unions & Remote Work Options

 

Insulting Fed Workers: Rebranding?

 

Fed Employees w/o Insurance

 

NIOSH Cuts & Firefighters’ Deaths

 

CDC Cuts & Workers’ Injuries

 

Grad Students Protest

 

From Democracy to Authoritarianism

 

DeSantis / Child Labor / Safety Laws

 

Trump’s Approval Rating (1)

 

Trump’s Approval Rating (2)

 

Trump / Fed Unions / Retaliation

 

ICE / CO Judge / Ban

 

DOJ / WI Judge / FBI

 

Women’s Initiative: Funding Restored

 

Non-profits: Handling Trump’s Backlash

 

Female Combat Vets on New Standards

 

Protests Across the US

 

States / Medicaid / Required Work

 

Layoffs / Food & Drugs / Safety

 

Deportations & Due Process

 

Judges / Dept of Ed / DEI

 

White House & Birth Bounty

 

Mexico / Cartels / Training

 

Job Loss & Emotional Impact

 

Handling Annoying/Violent Customers

 

Trump / Skilled Trades / Apprenticeship

 

Roofing / Prison Training / Workforce

 

Pope Francis: Shifting Influence

 

Pope Francis & Climate Change

 

Americans & Religion

 

More on Student Loans

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

Trump’s First 100 Days: Not Working for Workers (4/29)

 

Outcomes: Data, People, Health, and Language (5/16)

 

Understanding Suicide

 

Suicide Prevention for First Responders

 

Community-based Suicide Prevention

 

Support After Suicide

 

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.

April 28, 2025/by Dr. John Gaal
https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/iStock-697895326.jpg 779 1345 Dr. John Gaal https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png Dr. John Gaal2025-04-28 15:27:042025-04-28 15:27:04Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 28th
Work life balance
Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 21st

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Apr 21, 2025

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how binge drinking impacts women more than men—to an essay on eating disorders—to a Whistleblower exposing security breaches at the NLRB. This week I would like to take this opportunity to examine how cuts at NIOSH will endanger workers.

For the past +40 years, I have been involved with worker safety in the construction industry…here and abroad. While I must admit that the first 30 of those years were mainly focused on the physical aspects of safety, in the past decade, US-DOL’s OSHA has made strides in emphasizing the mental aspects of safety. Nonetheless, many of these improvements were brought about because of unbiased research performed at institutions such as Duke University, St. Louis University, Washington University, and the University of Iowa via grants from NIOSH (mostly due to NABTU-CPWR’s leadership).

Make no mistake, these latest cuts in Washington, DC will eventually have a negative impact on US workers. As noted by Blackwood, “Without NIOSH, workplaces will become more dangerous, and more workers will die.”[1] In addition, Davis et al, proclaim, “When you remove a keystone from an arch, the whole thing will collapse. The same is true for key federal agencies that provide support resulting in benefits well in excess of the investment in them.”[2]

To this end, industries, like construction, are great examples of how dangers have been mostly eliminated and, thus, more workers come home safely today than 60 years ago. In fact, more progressive construction owners/buyers, contractors, unions, and JATCs have invested millions of dollars and hours in safety-related resources…from designating and skilling up personnel to purchasing the latest equipment to offering ongoing and updated trainings.

Enough is enough! It is only a matter of time when DC’s cuts result in a death of a fellow worker. In the words of MLK, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of convenience and comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

Will you take a stand?

 

Sources: [1] https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gutting-niosh-endangers-every-u-s-worker/

[2] https://www.statnews.com/2025/04/16/niosh-cdc-workforce-layoffs-h5n1-bird-flu-worker-safety-occupational-health/

 

MH / Bullying / Workplace

 

Employees & Quiet Cracking

 

Rethinking ADHD

 

MT / Mental Illness / Homelessness

 

Mental Illness / Jail / Starving

 

Danger: Today’s Meth

 

RFK Jr / Autism / Epidemic?

 

Addressing Eating Disorders

 

Binge Drinking: Women v Men

 

WARNING: >8 Drinks per Week

 

Teens & Sleep

 

Fluoride / Drinking Water / Dental Health

 

17 Factors: Stroke/Dementia/Late-life Depression

 

More on Aging & Sleep

 

Weight Loss Pill (GLP-1)

 

Long COVID & Your Brain

 

Low cost / No cost Therapy

 

PLAs do NOT increase Costs

 

Contracting: A Race to the Bottom

 

Construction Worker Shortage: Focus on Women, etc.

 

Construction: Coaching v Sink-or-Swim

 

Construction: Unchecked Subs Fuel Abuse

 

NLRB / ULP / Whistleblower

 

More on NLRB & Whistleblower

 

List of Fed Job Cuts

 

Gutting NIOSH Endangers US Workers

 

More on NIOSH Cuts on Workers

 

Worker Injuries / CDC / Cuts

 

AI & Jobs

 

Trump / Courts / Constitutional Crisis?

 

SCOTUS / Trump / Deportation Ruling

 

US Dept of State: Redefines ‘Human Rights’

 

DOGE: Over-promise & Under-deliver

 

DOGE / NLRB / Security Breach?

 

Musk / NLRB / Unions’ Suit

 

Trump / Fed Judge / Chicago WIT’s Suit

 

Trump & White-collar Crime

 

SCOTUS / ACA / Preventive Care

 

Trump / Jews / Antisemitism?

 

Fed Judge / Trump / Frozen Funds

 

Trump / PBS & NPR / Cuts

 

MO Dems / Filibuster / Paid Sick Leave Cuts

 

Police / MO Politicians / Gun Rights

 

Free Speech / Trump / Research Cuts

 

Don’t be Fooled: AI Imposter Scams

 

More on Sisters of Selma

 

Finding Hot Jobs w/o College Degrees

 

College Degrees v Workplace Certifications

 

Decrease in College Students Projected

 

Passing Down the Fam’s Business

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

Free MHFA Training

 

HWC’s SURVEY: Impact of SUD and MH in Business

 

HWC’s Podcast: MSD in the Workplace

 

 

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.

April 21, 2025/by Dr. John Gaal
https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/iStock-697895326.jpg 779 1345 Dr. John Gaal https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png Dr. John Gaal2025-04-21 15:28:552025-04-21 15:28:55Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 21st
Work life balance
Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 14th

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Apr 14, 2025

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how a number of stories cited this week speak to the issue of how cuts in DC will (and already have) negatively impact much-needed services in local communities—to some positive news regarding the decline of US overdoses deaths—to the NFL’s position on ‘new’ helmets. This week I would like to take this opportunity to examine the article linked below that tells the story of how a person who was given a 2nd chance now uses his lessons learned to create a ‘culture of care’ in the construction industry.

 

For too long, the construction industry has been looked upon in a negative light. Decades ago, many in the world of work saw us as something ‘anyone’ could fall back on to and still make a living wage with good benefits.* Many people in the US still look down upon those of us who work(ed) with our hands. A few would say this has to do with the 3 Ds: dirty; dark (or dull); and dangerous. While others might be inclined to lean on old stereotypes of a once White male-dominated sector of our economy: macho, drinking, swearing, risk-taking, etc. However, times have changed and as the old saying goes, “You have to break some eggs to make an omelet.”

 

To be sure, the construction industry for the past several decades has been touting a potential shortage of workers. Thanks to progressive thought leaders in the St. Louis market, most joint labor-management training committees met this challenge by re-thinking their recruitment strategies. Effective recruiting and retention programs like St. Louis’ BUD (Building Union Diversity) began to spring up and spread across then USA. And, yet, needs in many areas remained unmet. Meanwhile, college tuition costs started to skyrocket and college degrees lost their luster. As a result, today’s high school seniors have become discerning consumers. So, if our industry seeks to recruit and retain Gen Z workers, we must take into consideration what is important to them which requires letting go of old practices (i.e., hazing, bullying, etc.). Equally important, Gen Z is much more open to addressing a once-taboo topic of previous generations: Mental Health.

 

To this end, it was not until recently (~2016), for the most part, that the construction industry took serious steps in addressing issues like mental health, opioids awareness, and suicide prevention. For this, I thank Wash U’s School of Medicine and the unions, management associations, and apprenticeship training schools that participated in research since 2004 that truly moved the needle…thus, placing ‘mental’ aspects of safety in the construction industry on par with ‘physical’ aspects of safety. PLEASE take the time to read Cal’s article linked below. Hopefully, you will agree with me that this is just another meaningful step in a never-ending journey.

 

(*This notion was further exacerbated in our K-12 school system. How? If you were an urban/suburban child of the 1960-80s, I ask you to reflect upon the friends/students you knew who went to the Voc-Tech high school in your area v who followed the ‘college’ track.)

 

Source: https://www.forconstructionpros.com/business/business-services/coaching-consulting/article/22934249/safe-project-mental-health-and-substance-misuse-support-in-apprenticeship-programs

 

 

Construction / Change / Culture

 

UK Construction / Physical Activity / MH

 

Annual HC Screening = Suicide Prevention

 

AI & MH Therapy

 

Overdose deaths decrease…but this is NOT over

 

Misinformation: Fentanyl

 

More on Cali Sober

 

VA / MH / Privacy

 

VA / MH / Cuts

 

MH cuts Impact Need for More Services

 

MH Therapists / K-P / Hunger Strike

 

Loneliness & Communal Dinners

 

Colon Cancer & Exercise

 

Brain Quiz for Dementia, etc.

 

Non-meat Sources of Protein

 

Want to avoid Stress?

 

Workplace Stress = Lack of Control + ….

 

Warning: Spam Calls

 

DC Cuts Impact TBI Research

 

NFL & New Helmets (1)

 

NFL & New Helmets (2)

 

Unhoused Workers

 

NY Nursing Home Care Workers Strike

 

Trump & Musk on Unions

 

Trump / Unions / Dues

 

Trump / UAW / Tariffs

 

NABTU / PLAs / Trump

 

Teamsters / Canada / Arbitrator

 

Update: Fed Employees Resign

 

More on NY CO’s strike

 

US-DOL cuts funds combatting Child Labor

 

More on Child Labor

 

US Secty of Labor: Listening Tour

 

Protecting OSHA = Protecting Workers

 

Tariffs / Stocks / Losses

 

Trump / SEC / Conflict of Interest

 

Trump & Stock Manipulation

 

Vance / SS Fraud / Truth???

 

Trump / Revenge / Fear & Intimidation

 

Trump’s reign = <Pro bono

 

Trump & Free Speech

 

Trump / Cuts / VA Housing

 

Trumps Tariffs & Your Savings

 

Trump / Tariffs / New Jobs???

 

Mfg Workers & Trump Tariffs

 

Tariffs: Impact on Construction

 

US – China Trade War

 

DOGE / MSHA / Cuts

 

HHS cuts impact on Sexual Assault

 

DOGE / Musk / Improper us of SS data

 

ICE & Deporting a Combat Vet

 

Natl Parks rewrite History

 

Quiet Quitters v Disconnected Leadership

 

College / Athletes / NIL

 

What ‘not’ to say to your kids

 

Why are students losing ground

 

Navigating Student Loans during DC’s Chaos

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

CALM Training (4/16)

 

Community Suicide Postvention (4/21)

 

Opioid Prevention (4/23)

 

OSHA Heat Illness Prevention (4/25)

 

Substitute ‘Worker’ Program (/5/15)

 

 

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.

April 14, 2025/by Dr. John Gaal
https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/iStock-697895326.jpg 779 1345 Dr. John Gaal https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png Dr. John Gaal2025-04-14 15:13:202025-04-14 15:13:20Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 14th
Work life balance
Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 7th

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of April 7, 2025

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at a CPWR report that suggests better benefits in construction equate to better mental health—to how recent cuts in Higher Ed are leading to a brain drain—to how newly imposed US tariffs are impacting the Ag and Construction sectors. This week I would like to take this opportunity to examine the importance of transparency and stability when communicating major changes to the masses.

 

Over the past 2 months, I think the word “whipsaw” has been used more times in the media than I have seen/heard in my entire 66 years. M-W defines whipsaw as “to beset or victimize in two opposite ways at once, by a two-phase operation.” One only needs to look at how stock prices retreated—across the board—this past week in order to gauge the temperature of the markets…a clear indication of future instability. It is one thing to take a position and stand by it…but a totally different issue when one goes back-and-forth and/or confuses the public with less than clear explanations. Case in point:

President Trump signed executive orders suspending new tariffs on many imports from Mexico and Canada, two days after he imposed sweeping levies of 25 percent on two of America’s closest economic partners. The exemptions, on goods covered by the trilateral trade pact Mr. Trump signed in his first term, were a whipsaw reversal that followed days of economic turmoil. Stocks in the United States closed down.1

 

Why does this matter? Because actions like those just mentioned not only cause anxiety in the markets but in our offices, jobsites, and homes as well. To be sure, Faust-Hartnett cited that nearly ¾ of participants in a recent survey of 1000 people in the US workplace, “…believe anxiety, caused by the current global political and social environment, leads to burnout at work.”2 Meanwhile, as I attended an international Mental Health committee meeting last weekend, I heard some of the group members express their serious concerns about the current undertakings in Washington, DC. Overall, the consensus was there no need to get too worked up as ‘this too shall pass’. While I agree most organizations have faults, I cannot condone the strategy of shoot-aim-fire!

 

To this end, earlier this past week, our nation witnessed a US Senator take an “active” stance against the current state of chaotic affairs. Sen C Booker set a new record for the longest speech in this chamber (>25 hours).3 The irony is that a speech—by a Black man—surpassed the previous record by Sen T Thurmond, a segregationist, who filibustered for ~24 hours to oppose the Civil Rights Act in 1957. As my dear (late) friend Gary Stelzer used to say, “What comes around, goes around.”

 

Sources: [1] https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/03/06/us/trump-administration-news

[2] https://www.plansponsor.com/the-workplace-mental-health-crisis-of-2025/

[3]https://www.npr.org/2025/04/02/nx-s1-5349429/sen-cory-booker-on-his-marathon-25-hour-speech-on-the-senate-floor

 

Construction: Better Benefits = Better MH

 

Trade Conflict & Anxiety

 

Bolstering Global H&S

 

Head Protection: More on Safety Helmets

 

Teens / Growth / Resilience

 

Do You Have a Healthy Social Biome?

 

All Generations Seek Work-Life Balance

 

Employees: Less Collaborative, More Confrontational?

 

Spotting a Sports Gambling Problem

 

Myth of Sports Betting

 

More on Sports Gambling Addiction

 

Gambling Addiction Treatment

 

Uneven Access to Harm Reduction

 

Philly / Medetomidine / Xylazine

 

Magnesium & Sleep

 

Women / Sleep / Dementia

 

Non-sleep Rest

 

Toxic Tampons

 

Smell & Cognition

 

Tobacco & Mental Illness

 

Empty Drug Treatment Beds

 

How to Help a Struggling Adult Child

 

Self-Compassion & Relationships

 

9 Tips for Self-care

 

Kush / Women / W Africa

 

US Wealth & Longevity

 

Defrocked Priest Passes

 

On Losing a Pet

 

Weakening Child Labor Laws

 

Doctors Unionize in MN

 

New Mothers in Congress & Proxy Voting

 

Division: STL Co Prop B

 

STLCC: New Adv Mfg Center

 

STL Co Library: Virtual Trades Training

 

Supreme Court / Workers / Catholic Church

 

Sen Booker’s Day+1

 

US Profs Seek Work Abroad

 

Dept of Ed Layoffs Impact Special Ed

 

Higher Cuts: Who Loses?

 

Trump Targets DEI in K-12

 

Trumped-up DEI Layoffs

 

Impact of HHS Layoffs on LT Public Health

 

Farmers / Trump / Tariffs

 

Foreign Leaders & Trump Tariffs

 

Tariffs = Construction Work Slowdown

 

Contractors Scale Back Hiring

 

NY PW Laws

 

NM on Heat Safety

 

America’s Aging Infrastructure

 

NCAA / NIL / Settlement

 

AI / HR / Helping Employees

 

Open AI v Google

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

Autism & Suicide Prevention (5/6)

 

MH in Construction

 

Podcast Series: Let’s Talk About Guns & Trauma

 

Suicide Prevention in College Sports

 

Does Banning Drugs Increase Violence?

 

Employee Financial Wellness

 

Narcan Training for Ag

 

FREE: Safety Helmet

 

FREE: Diapers

 

FREE: After School Meals

 

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.

April 7, 2025/by Dr. John Gaal
https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/iStock-697895326.jpg 779 1345 Dr. John Gaal https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png Dr. John Gaal2025-04-07 15:19:162025-04-07 15:19:16Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 7th
Missouri Apprentice Ready Program, News, Success Stories

Sammy’s Story: Missouri Works Initiative

Struggling to find gainful employment after his incarceration, Sammy heard about the Apprentice Ready Program, called Building Union Diversity (BUD) in St. Louis, from his pastor. “I was convicted of a felony,” Sammy shares. “When I got out of prison, I had difficulty finding good work.” Sammy, a father of five children ranging in age from toddler to teenager, worked two jobs but wasn’t earning enough. He was in desperate need of a sustainable career that would make it possible for him to support his family.

The Missouri Works Initiative’s BUD program was the solution Sammy sought. The 6-week program provided him with education on the unions, a bus pass, a weekly stipend, and a hands-on introduction to all the trades. “They took a chance on me and allowed me to change my life. Joining the BUD Program is the best decision I’ve made,” says Sammy. “I graduated from the program on a Thursday and started work the next Tuesday.” 

Sammy is now a laborer with Bommarito Construction and a member of Local 110. “I didn’t have to do it alone,” says Sammy. “I had a great mentor named Rodney Griffin with Local 110. I’ve been in the field for six years now, and I’m able to be a mentor to new students. I share my experiences and help students understand the simple rules and etiquette of the work site, like the importance of being on time and staying off your cell phone. It’s great to help someone else succeed and build a new life.”

If you have experienced incarceration and feel like you’re facing an uphill battle in securing a sustainable career, Sammy wants you to know that you have options. “It can be better,” he says. “ I had friends on probation who are electricians now. If you’ve got someone willing to provide you with the opportunity to be successful, you should take it! The BUD Program did that for me.”

“I used to have a job, but now I have a career. You can have one, too,” says Sammy. “Go be a carpenter or electrician or ironworker. They can provide you with the best possible career in the trades. Making $45-50 an hour is some real motivation. The BUD Program trains you for free in five weeks. You’ll have a career. You just have to apply yourself.”

Start your journey here.

April 1, 2025/by Missouri Works Initiative
https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png 0 0 Missouri Works Initiative https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png Missouri Works Initiative2025-04-01 22:10:192025-04-01 22:10:38Sammy’s Story: Missouri Works Initiative
Work life balance
Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights March 31st

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Mar 31, 2025

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how the current political climate is impacting today’s workforce—to why secondary education administrators cringe at students’ Spring Break choices—to how US tariffs are cause for India’s hiring binge. This week I would like to take this opportunity to examine the importance of art and nature in the healing process.

 

In the first link below, CBS Sunday Morning reports, “…researchers have determined that involvement in the arts can improve public health and promote healing from illness, as well as protect against such problems as cognitive decline, heart disease, anxiety and depression.”1 Understanding that we need to not merely feed our bodies is known as ‘social prescribing’… which is a healthcare approach wherein health professionals refer patients to non-clinical community activities and services (i.e., arts, movement, volunteering, etc.) in order to improve their patients’ health and well-being.

 

In the second link below, the NYT reporter proclaims, “There is growing research that shows how spending time in nature can improve mental, physical and cognitive health….”2 I encourage readers to visit this link in order to discover how a doctor helped Hawaiians restore a specific, neglected land mass…in turn, healing this area was a means to healing natives’ bodies and souls. As a result, this sacred connection to the land allowed older people—once dependent on canes and walkers—to regain some mobility; diabetics saw their glucose levels drop; and depressed teens have become reinvigorated.

 

In these turbulent times, when it comes to our physical and mental well-being, all of us should to be open to various forms of self-care including, but not limited to, evidenced-based traditional and non-traditional methods.

 

Sources: [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzMVLd57idg

[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/25/climate/hawaii-health-nature.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

 

2025: MH Crisis in the Workplace

 

Workplace H&S: Top Concern

 

EHRs / Doctors / Suicide Prevention

 

Bricklayers “swarm” Struggling Workers

 

Mental Health Court

 

Mexico / Fentanyl / Harm Reduction

 

MO / Bill / Kratom

 

Cognition is like Art…

 

Art as Therapy

 

Nature as Medicine

 

Spring Break / Teens / Drinking…

 

Social Media / Harm / Teens

 

Impact of Long COVID

 

Retirement & Your Brain

 

Difficult to Diagnose

 

Frustrated Doctors

 

Doctors & Concierges

 

College Bball & Gambling

 

Germany & Nazi remains

 

Can Male Octopuses Adapt?

 

Sex & UTIs

 

Sleep & Yoga

 

Diet & Well-being

 

Citrus & Depression

 

Vets / Invisible Wounds / Suicide

 

Consumers on the Economy

 

Carpenters Union & HEC

 

REI & NLRB

 

UC & ULP

 

VA / DOGE / Outstanding Vet

Trump / Musk / Conflict of Interest (COI)

 

Musk: More on COI

 

Trump / Musk / FEMA Freeze

 

Trump / Supreme Court / Teachers’ Grants

 

Social Security’s Failures

 

UAW / Trump / Tariffs

 

Vax Programs / Poor Nations / Cuts

 

Trump & Fed Unions

 

Trump & PLAs

 

Fed Workers Return to Chaos

 

RTO: Purpose v Presence

 

DOD tips its Hand

 

China / Military Drills / Taiwan

 

Supreme Court & Ghost Guns

 

What now / 23 & Me

 

I-70 Upgrades

 

Boeing withdraws Guilty Plea

 

US needs 90k GPs

 

Managers: Leadership Gap

 

Tariffs Impact on Northern Neighbors

 

India / Tariffs / Hiring Binge

 

AI & Job Hunting

 

AI & Construction

 

SkillsUSA: Future Workers

 

Update: TikTok Ban

 

Update: Student Loans

 

Tribute: Ida B Wells (Coin)

 

The Sun Queen

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

FREE Financial Wellness for Employees (4/2)

 

Why Carry Naloxone (Narcan)?

 

PTSD: Mobile ‘Safety’ App

 

Grief after Suicide (Open thru 4/25)

 

Construction: MH & Suicide Prevention

 

Missouri 988 (Resources)

 

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.

 

March 31, 2025/by Dr. John Gaal
https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/iStock-697895326.jpg 779 1345 Dr. John Gaal https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png Dr. John Gaal2025-03-31 15:21:102025-03-31 15:21:15Wellness & Well-being Highlights March 31st
Work life balance
Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights March 24th

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Mar 24, 2025

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how your hair stylist may play an important role your Mental Health—to how digital media is negatively impacting our youth—to the importance of neurodiversity in recruiting and hiring. This week I would like to take this opportunity to encourage readers examine the WSJ article on women and marriage.

 

The author, Rachel Wolfe, provides a variety of reasons why, in 2025, more and more women are going solo. She points to a number of shifts, including but not limited, a growing gender-related education gap, career opportunities, political affiliation, and how one defines a contemporary family. So, instead of settling for something less than, some women are doing their best to make the best of a lousy situation. As a result, Wolfe posits that more women are focusing on their friendships and careers vs dating and marriage.

 

To be sure, as per the article linked below, “A rise in earning power and a decline in the social stigma for being single has allowed more women to be choosy.” In fact, a couple of survey stats revealed:

34% of single women were looking for romance vs 54% of single men (2022) vs

38% of single women were looking for romance vs 61% of single men (2019);

…meanwhile…

48% of women said that being married was not too or not at all important for a fulfilling life vs 39% of men (2023) vs

31% of women said that being married was not too or not at all important for a fulfilling life vs 28% of men (2019).

 

The WSJ author further proclaims that, “The latest presidential election and the first months of the Trump administration have intensified this ideological rift.” As such, when it comes to romance, “…politics have become an expression of one’s core values about everything from economic inequality to bodily autonomy.”

 

Source: https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/relationships/american-women-are-giving-up-on-marriage-54840971?st=WXWbzu&reflink=article_gmail_share

 

Defining HOPE

 

Barbers & MH

 

Is Anxiety Good

 

Gen Z & Rising MH Behaviors

 

Friendships @ Work

 

2025: Women & Marriage

 

Is Your Relationship Fun?

 

Mental Illness / Treatments / Dumb Ideas

 

More on Measles Vax

 

US Public Health at Risk

 

CO’s Mushroom Experiment

 

Mexico & Harm Reduction

 

Update: Purdue Pharma & Bankruptcy

 

Canada’s Fentanyl Czar

 

Chicago: Guns & Drugs

 

Smartphone Addiction

 

Teens / Digital Media / MH

 

Teens & Half-Swiping

 

Aging & Heat

 

Maintaining your Exercise Routine

 

Inflammation & Exercise

 

Adult Daycare

 

Are Wellness Programs above the Law?

 

How to Fall Asleep Fast

 

Sleep & Creativity

 

Does Venting work?

 

Schools & Period Products

 

Healthy Teeth

 

Treating Cold Sores

 

Sports Betting’s Impact

 

J Oliver: Sports Betting

 

SMART & DEI

 

NHL Bargaining

 

March Madness: Are Office Pools Illegal?

 

Fed Govt & Labor Reform: FWFA

 

In the Land of Oz & Medicaid

 

Cutting Medicaid will Weaken HC System

 

Trump & Segregation’s Comeback

 

Ending Diversity in US Military Cemeteries

 

Fed Cuts are Piling Up, Slowing Services

 

Trump: Dismantling US Dept of Ed

 

Ed Cuts / Impact / Low Income & Rural 

 

Workers: Feds Loss, States Gain

 

Vets Protest Trump’s Cuts

 

What’s New: VA Mortgage Program

 

DOGE’s Damage: Social Security

 

Managing ICE Visits

 

Pentagon nixes research

 

Military Musicians Step in After Cuts

 

Guide: Davis-Bacon & Prevailing Wage

 

Boeing / Whistleblower / Wrongful Death

 

DEA Agent / Mexican Cartel / Terrorist Suit

 

Overlooking Talent & Neurodiverse Workers

 

Students / AI / Cheating

 

Navigating Probate

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

Natural Disaster Resources

 

Gambling Addiction & Suicide

 

Update: MH & Construction (3/25)

 

Employee Financial Wellness (4/2)

 

Youth Sports & Head Injuries (4/15-16)

 

Youth MHFA (4/17)

 

Youth / Community / Prevention (4/18)

 

988 in Missouri (4/27)

 

Talk Saves Lives (4/28)

 

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.

March 24, 2025/by Missouri Works Initiative
https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/iStock-697895326.jpg 779 1345 Missouri Works Initiative https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png Missouri Works Initiative2025-03-24 15:16:582025-03-24 15:16:58Wellness & Well-being Highlights March 24th
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