Works Initiative News | Worker Wellness & Career Opportunities

Wellness & Well-being Highlights December 9

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Dec 9, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at a couple of significant drug busts here and abroad…on land and sea—to how a wave of people in recovery are now entering their twilight years—to how US-DOL is looking to revamp a system of lower than minimum wages for disabled workers. This week I would like to take this opportunity to shed some light on our “hometown” HERO: Jason Kander, Missouri’s former Secretary of State and, more importantly, former US Army intelligence officer.

Less than a decade ago, Jason was no doubt a rising political star on both the state and national levels. However, his battle with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was enough to cause him to take a step back and remove himself from the world of politics in order to obtain much-needed help. For this, I admire Jason! But our “native” son’s journey does not end here….

If you missed the chance to see the related 60 Minutes’ segment last Sunday (12/01), I highly recommend taking 15 minutes to watch the video in the link below. In it, from my viewpoint, Jason truly exhibits a phenomenon that is known as Post Traumatic Growth (PTG). The concept of PTG is a relatively new theory since it has only been around since the 1990s. In short, PTG suggests that people can experience positive psychological change after trauma or other challenging life circumstances. To this end, Jason was able to bring a variety of stakeholders together in order to devise a fluid, clever, and successful plan to rescue ~400 Afghanis—from the Taliban—who were left behind after the US withdrawal in 2021…including his translator’s nephew and family.

Far too often, we complain about what’s wrong in our state/country. This is one time, no matter your political party, ALL mid-westerners should be proud to say they “know” the chief architect of Operation Bella. May God bless all those who assisted Jason in these beautiful efforts!

Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/jason-kander-afghanistan-rescue-plan-60-minutes/

Telehealth & Suicide Prevention

The Psychosis Rate Gap

Employers / MH / Neurodiversity

Mexican Drug Busts / Violence / Missing Persons

Wellness & Well-being Highlights December 2

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of December 2, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at the UK’s parliament provided citizens with terminal illnesses and less than 6 months to live the “right to die”—to the dangerous increase in High Intensity binge drinking—to the CDC’s attempt to prevent falls for elderly people in the US…which are on the rise. This week I would like to take this opportunity to address how Mexican Drug Cartels are recruiting university chemistry students to “cook” their Fentanyl.

The NYT interviewed a few of these new recruits and shared these insights below. First and foremost, the Cartels are interested in creating a stronger (and cleaner) product…further hooking users up north. However, equally important is their need to develop (synthesize) their own precursors vs rely on imports from China…which are on Trump’s hit list. Interestingly, this new tactic is claimed to be just another unforeseen byproduct of COVID…gummed up supply chains and worker shortages. These students are making nearly 2x what a “legitimate” chemist in Mexico would earn. And, not unlike other big companies, Cartels often pay for these students’ tuition plus provide signing bonuses. While the Cartels have not yet solved their “precursor” problem, they are now making more potent Fentanyl.¹

Having worked in Mexico nearly 30 years ago, I can tell you that the focus back then was the massive amounts of marijuana moving across their border into the USA (Remember Prop 215?). I found it interesting that those related discussions often came down to the basic economic principle of supply and demand. In fact, I heard this saying on more than one occasion: “If your people would stop demanding the product, then our people would stop supplying it.” Sounded simple back then and is apparently still being applied to our current opioid crisis. To be sure, addiction is not a “one-size-fits-all” phenomenon. Even if the next administration could stop the flow of Fentanyl across our borders, most people who are addicted to opioids will find another means to fill their void. Sadly, not unlike how the Cartels found a means to fill their void in marijuana sales to the US by seeking another product in demand: Heroin. And, so the story goes…unless and until WE as a nation seriously address issues like SDOH² and DoD³, 30 years from now, WE will continue this conversation but possibly with a focus on a different medium!

Sources: [1]https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/01/world/americas/mexico-fentanyl-chemistry-students.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

[2] https://www.cdc.gov/public-health-gateway/php/about/social-determinants-of-health.html

[3] https://www.statista.com/topics/5961/diseases-of-despair-in-the-us/

NECA & IBEW on MH

Labor Dept / Anti-Harassment Guide / Construction

Doing Good & Well-being

Selfless Giving

MH & Search for a Cure

Medically Assisted Suicide & UK (1)

Medically Assisted Suicide & UK (2)

Fentanyl & Cartels Recruiting Chemistry Students

Alcohol & High Intensity Binge Drinking

Weight loss drugs for Adolescents?

Weight loss drugs & Medicare/Medicaid

Housing the Chronically Homeless?

Vaccines & Holidays

Bird Flu on the Rise

Big Food v RFK Jr

America / Seniors / Falling

Seniors & Exercise

On reducing Dementia

Next Gen Cancer Survivors

Split Families & Surviving Holidays

Managing the Holiday Blues

Acupuncture & Depression

Therapists’ Self-Help Books

Brain Injuries & Chronic Conditions

Football & Another Head Injury

Teamsters / Trump / Secty of Labor Choice

Trump’s Pro-Labor Pick?

VW Workers Set to Strike

Phoenix Drywall Co / Labor Laws / Fine

China holds back Wages & Pensions

PIPs & Firing Today’s Employees

Retiring Early?

Can you AI-proof your Career?

Cocoa / Climate / Prices

Tech & Inmates

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

Ag & Disaster Response (12/3)

FREE After School Meals

FREE Diapers

Metal Health Trainings

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 johngaal@moaflcio.org with related questions or comments.

December 2, 2024/by Dr. John Gaal

Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights November 25

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Nov 25, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at the departure of Nichole Dawsey, one of the finest Public Health professionals to grace STL’s harm reduction arena—to how enemies of the USA and Western European countries have moved beyond spying to gain advantages—to WashU’s efforts to start a law clinic for Veterans. This week I would like to take this opportunity to address a White Paper & website that explores the mental health issues of the UK’s construction industry.

A few of you may know that I have been “banging a drum” for approximately 2 years now regarding the issue of Suicide Postvention…actually, the lack of attention this topic has received vs the plethora of Suicide Prevention & Intervention programs available. More specifically, how we as an industry can address the First 48 hours following a suicide incident (death or attempt)…the “acute” phase of the postvention process! In so doing, I have recently reached out to subject matter experts (academics and those with lived experiences) here and abroad. I have found it refreshing to see how many people are committed to taking action now vs waiting for others to prescribe a solution. To this end, a researcher, Dr Susie Bennett, at the University of Glasgow has been a huge help in connecting me with her UK colleagues already working in this space. Below I will highlight the aforementioned projects.

On one hand, the ”Behind the Hi-Vis” White Paper sheds some light on the scale and magnitude of the mental health crisis in the UK’s construction industry.¹ Here are some facts and figures:

>90% of tradesworkers have been impacted by mental health
- Most common factor = finances
>80% of tradesworkers who work alone experience mental health issues
- Mainly anxiety and depression
Nearly 70% of tradesworkers report low motivation
- Most are misusing drugs and/or alcohol to mitigate the above
Nearly 50% of tradesworkers w/ MH issues felt unsupported by their workplaces
- This crisis requires urgent attention: Companies must adopt a proactive stance

On the other hand, more specifically, “The Lost City” takes an approach that allows one to “visualize” the industry’s suicide crisis via their website.²Suggesting a city that might have been if it were not for the 7k deaths by suicide—over the past decade—in the UK’s construction sector. As such, here is a sampling of what goes missing:

~3 hospitals
~8 supermarkets/retail units
1 high rise
150k houses
200 apartments blocks
78 schools….

As a visual learner, I found the latter to be very effective in getting their point across. While these resources do not directly address the postvention issue, they provide additional information for ALL of us to consider in our suicide prevention and intervention efforts. Often, we hear the phrase “You are not alone” when it comes to one’s mental health. As an industrial sector, it is clear that “We are not alone.”

Sources: [1]https://www.onthetools.tv/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Behind-The-High-Vis-A-Mental-Health-White-Paper.pdf?utm_source=website&utm_medium=document&utm_campaign=MHWP

[2]https://www.thelostcity.org/

PrevenTable & Saying Good-bye

Trump / Homelessness / Mental Illness

Trump / China / Fentanyl

Canada / MH / First Responders

How/Why ODs deaths have decreased?

Russia & China utilizing gangs in Europe & USA

How US arrests made Mexico more violent

AI / MDs / Disease

Big Tech / Kids / Online Safety

France / Athletes / MH

About work & life

MH & Working Parents

Women / Anxiety / Apnea

Mouth Taping & Apnea

Breakfast & Stress

Intermittent Fasting?

Balance: Why dermatology?

Youth / Cancer / Survival

MH Risk Prediction Tool

Chopra on Meditation

Deep Breathing & Anxiety

Bhutan / Happiness / Exodus

CO / Roadwork / Deaths

White Paper on Construction & Suicide

NLRB / Amazon / SpaceX

DNC / Union / Layoffs

>50% of workers regret Open Enrollment Choices

TX judge blocks OT pay

Replacing Lead Pipes

Is your city prepared for Climate Change?

Law Clinic for Vets

New World Forklift Champs

Vets / Mortgages / COVID

Trump & Student Loans?

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

FREE After-School Meals

FREE Meals on Thanksgiving

Qigong (11/25)

Early Cannabis Use (12/11)

International Apprenticeship Conference (1/13/25)

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 johngaal@moaflcio.org with related questions or comments.

November 25, 2024/by Dr. John Gaal

Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights November 18

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Nov 18, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how some of the lowest paid (but very much frontline) healthcare workers are dealing with PTSD following COVID—to the importance of utilizing peers to support employees in your workplace—to how owners of gold mines in South America and South Africa are contending with illegal workers and crime gangs. This week I would like to take this opportunity to take a closer look at addiction(s).

Far too often, in our culture, when we hear the word addiction many of our minds immediately run towards issues like (hard) drugs (i.e., opioids, cocaine, etc.). Let’s face it, most of us at one time or another have ignored the impact of other addictions that cripple our society because they are deemed “legal”. For instance, alcohol and gambling. With regards to the former, alcohol is the #1 type of substance addiction in the USA. In fact, the NIH reports that nearly 29m people 12 yo and older have AUD (alcohol use disorder)…with over 750k of those are between ages of 12-17 yo. It goes on to say that approximately ½ of adults have someone in their family with a “drinking problem”. Meanwhile, many of us turn a blind eye towards the negative impact advertising has on our society while watching college and pro sports. Some might say, in essence, we have normalized a potentially harmful product and, thus, removed its stigma to a certain degree.

With respect to the latter, the recent passage of Amendment 2 to Missouri’s Constitution regarding sports betting, has some experts expressing their concerns about gambling addiction. Why? Because data reveals that 60% of the males between the ages of 18 and 22 are placing sports bets.¹ As mentioned previously in this blog, the male brain is not fully developed until ~25 yo. Online betting companies are fully aware of this key piece of information and are taking advantage of it! Instant forms of placing wagers on one’s cell phone for something as minute as: Will a certain power forward miss his/her 3^rd jump shot from beyond the 3-point arc? According to the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), gambling disorder is a behavioral addiction. To this end, the APA has produced an impactful, short video linked below on Gambling Disorder. Please watch and share it as you see fit.²

In the meantime, help prove me wrong by taking a stand against allowing gambling addiction in the US to become the next MH pandemic…one that is on-target to quickly dwarf the opioid crisis!!!

Source: [1]https://www.npr.org/2024/11/16/nx-s1-5185158/the-journalist-behind-the-big-short-turns-focus-to-sports-gambling-in-new-podcast

[2]Gambling Disorder (APA)

Updates: FHWA Safety

Future of OSHA’s “Heat Rule”?

Gambling & Addiction

20% of Workers Leaving for Caregiving

Post-COVID / Healthcare Workers / PTSD

Peer Support in the Workplace

Small Business & MH (Guide)

Construction’s Injury Rate Drops

Cancer: A self-experiment

On stopping STIs

Cost of untreated Obesity

Loneliness & Dementia

Blood Pressure & Exercise

Art & (Dis)abilities

Joy / Loss / Life

The call VERY parent fears

Safety Helmets & Marketplace Confusion

2024’s Impact on Unions (1)

2024’s Impact on US Union (2)

NLRB / Anti-union Meetings / Amazon

Canadian Postal Strike

Update: Montreal Port Strike

UAW’s next move?

Impact of France’s baby bust

S America / Gold Mines / Crime

S Africa / Gold Mines / Crime

Impact of Trump’s election on Human Trafficking

Mexico & Post-Biden Mass Deportations

DOGE: Is Musk recruiting tactic legal/ethical?

DANGER: Women Comics in China!!!

Where Fashion meets Scaffolding….

Canada / Research / Dangers of AI

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

Construction: Benefits & Challenges of Mentorship (11/19)

Anti-Trafficking in Persons (11/19)

EBSA: MH Parity Workshop (12/11)

Head Protection in Construction (Part 2)

Construction: Recruiting & Retaining Women

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 johngaal@moaflcio.org with related questions or comments.

November 18, 2024/by Missouri Works Initiative

Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights November 11

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Nov 11, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how Chatbots are luring adolescents into very dangerous (sometimes deadly) situations—to a report on a recent study suggesting that back pain was reduced via a 12-week virtual yoga program—to how newly minted MDs are seeking work-life balance while older ones—rooted in “tradition”—are pushing back. This week I would like to take this opportunity to take a closer look at how employers can improve the lives of our Veterans.

With today being Veterans Day—a National Holiday—it is only fitting that this blog addresses how we treat out Vets in the workplace. On an annual basis, well over 200k service members make the transition from the military sector to the public/private sector. Sadly, almost 25% of our nation’s “heroes” have a hard time adjusting to today’s civilian workplace culture. Food for thought: While, 1/3 of the nearly 9m Vets in our current workforce are underemployed, approximately 60% of those discharged make less in their first year out than while on active duty.

To this end, it is not only incumbent upon HR to get a better handle on EACH & EVERY potential new hire’s applicable skills but to also tailor aspects of its benefits program to this group’s specific needs. Case in point: Over 40% of transitioning service members may have issues regarding mental health care. Action: How can your workplace design and provide a safe work environment…one that allows each Vet to contribute and succeed? This may be in the form of wellness activities, legal counseling, and/or financial literacy courses.

Living in a post-911 era, most of have had some level of personal experiences with Vets. My loyalty to this special group of people goes back to honoring my Father’s contribution in WWII. His service in France fighting Nazis not only resulted in injuries that curtailed his career in pro baseball but cut his life short to a mere 48 years old. Thousands of families beyond mine also know this price of ultimate sacrifice. So, I kindly ask those of you who make hiring decisions, instead of just “thanking a Vet for her/his service”, let’s try doing something more meaningful: Ask a Vet how you can make her/his transition to the public/private sector less daunting? Then listen and take meaningful action!

Source: https://worldatwork.org/resources/publications/workspan-daily/how-employers-can-use-benefits-to-better-support-veteran?utm_medium=email&utm_source=rasa_io&utm_campaign=newsletter

Happy Veterans Day

VETs / Employers / Benefits

MH & Law Enforcement Partnership

Chatbots / Teens / Suicide

Australia / Families / Social Media Bans

48 Caught / Cartels / Drug Bust

IL & Kroger’s $40m Opioids Settlement

Mass & Legalizing Psychedelics?

Exec Function Coaches for Kids?

Learning to Listen: Tell Me More

Walking Pneumonia

Wearable Breast Pumps

Dark Nights & Brights Days

Good Sleep = Better Sex

Loneliness: Young & Old

Long Life & Getting Old

Wellness & Well-being Highlights November 4

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of November 4, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how workplace violence is impacting employees at library and health care settings—to the need to contain a drug war in the Middle East from spreading to Europe and the USA—to the importance of supporting blue- and white-collar women in the workplace. This week I would like to take this opportunity to take a closer look at the interesting dance that OSHA has underway with the state of Colorado’s cannabis industry.

While marijuana may be legal in many states—for medical and/or recreational purposes—it remains illegal in the eyes of the federal government. Nevertheless, Fed OSHA takes the stand that workplaces in the US fall under their purview. Fittingly, it appears that Colorado’s cannabis industry has had 3 workplace fatalities in the past 7 years. And, upon a number of OSHA’s worksite inspections, among other dangers cited, a lack of respiratory protection and personal protective equipment were cited. The former is important due to the airborne irritants like dusts and molds present in some of these facilities. To this end, one OSHA director described a related 2022 employee’s death as “the first fatality from occupational asthma in the US cannabis industry.”

Although these incidents were found in Colorado’s (legal) commercial cannabis production sites, OSHA intends to implement their “emphasis program” nationwide. As mentioned,

“The aim is to encourage employers to take steps to address hazards, ensure facilities are evaluated to determine if they are in [compliance] with all relevant OSHA requirements, and to help them correct hazards, thereby reducing potential injuries, illnesses, and death for their workers.”

NOTE: OSHA actually offers free evaluation services to employers with under 251 employees.

In an industry where nearly 1 in 4 workers do NOT receive health & safety training, OSHA stepping in to provide outreach services (training and e-newsletters) may seem proactive. However, in the eyes of at least 3 families these steps are reactive. As with so many industrial settings in our nation’s history, workers MUST die BEFORE meaningful changes take place. In an attempt to end on a positive note for the greater good: Better late than never!

Source: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/federal-officials-discuss-new-osha-program-on-marijuana-industry-workplace-hazards/

Prepping for Daylight Savings Time

Opioids & Workplace Injuries

Libraries & Workplace Violence

Workplace Violence & Health Care

Trauma / Emotional Labor / Health Care Workers

Harm Reduction & Vending Machines

Xylazine Addiction & Pregnancy

Captagon & Middle East’s Drug War

Sinaloa Cartel & 42k Seized Pills

Who is running Mexico?

What’s Next?: Pink Cocaine

Wellness & Well-being Highlights October 28

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of October 28, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how AI chatbots are now linked to teen suicides—to how recent natural disasters on the east coast’s wiped-out beehives will negatively impact agriculture on the west coast—to why a college football player retires at 23 while a NFL player ignores similar warning signs. This week I would like to take this opportunity to take a closer look at change: here and abroad.

First, in the US, the construction industry is seeing an exodus of baby-boomers (mostly white males) heading for retirement. As such, many trades have embraced looking towards “non-traditional” workers to help fill those vacancies in their ranks…more specifically, women. While this industrial sector acknowledges this need it still contends with age-old stereotypes and attitudes.[1]

Second, as we travel across the Atlantic, we find a rape trial underway in France, a country that has and, oddly, still does view sexual misconduct, etc. as a “part of their culture.” Wherein, the victim seemingly is guilty until proven innocent. Supporters in and outside the court room seek a new path forward while naysayers push back against a US-type legal response.[2]

Third, south of our border, Mexico recently installed its first woman as President. Weeks into President Sheinbaum’s office we are told that military force was utilized to weaken the Sinaloa Cartel. Let’s face it, hardly a week goes by in the USA where we do not hear about the negative impact of Mexican Drug Cartels on their and our societies. However, this only addresses one-half of the supply/demand equation. What is our country doing to address the latter half?[3]

In all 3 examples above, we find women are key to making system-wide changes that will eventually have positive impacts beyond their local communities. Sadly, in all 3 scenarios harassment and aggression are the evils within. To this end, a number of sayings come to mind: Slow and steady wins the race; Do not sacrifice the good for the perfect; and so on. In my opinion, a new tomorrow depends on ALL of us supporting change: here and abroad!

Source: [1] https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-10-10/gender-equity-among-trades-workers-increasing-but-theres-a-long-way-to-go

[2] https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/the-rape-trial-that-could-change-france-e2e711ac?st=YH7qmA&reflink=article_gmail_share

[3] https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/23/world/americas/mexico-sinaloa-cartel-19-killed.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&tgrp=cpy&pvid=03C4B71F-3CA3-462B-BE35-9A42699DFC69

AI & Teen Suicide

NIOSH / Brain Health / Workforce

New Exec Council for MH in Construction

LA / Homeless / Mobile Psychiatry

Notre Dame & MH

Africa’s MH Crisis

Early Retirement’s Impact on Resiliency

GLP-1s & Food Industry’s Pivot

Texting & Emotional Affairs

Hurricanes / Landslides / Bees

UN & Global Climate Goals

Depression & Sex Drive

Laughter / Stress / Mood

Stock Market & Anti-depressants

Mold & Health

Is Tuna Healthy?

Fatty Liver Disease

Wellness & Well-being Highlights October 21

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of October 21, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how the role of today’s grandparent has shifted due to the opioids crisis—to the importance of undocumented (and often illegal) workers who make up a sizable portion of the current workforce in both the US dairy and construction industries—to how women in Brazil and India are standing up to abusive (sometimes deadly) workforce cultures. This week I would like to take this opportunity to take a closer look at the 2024 MHA report on Workplace Wellness.

With nearly 4000 workers across 5 generations and various industries in the USA, the feedback received provides a glimpse of what makes employees tick…with a focus on tomorrow’s workers.

That said, consider the following findings:

Workplace Stress-

* 75% of employees said that work-related stress impacts their sleep;

For several years now, I have been teaching pre-apprentices across the state of Missouri the importance of sleep on one’s well-being. As this study reveals, lack of proper sleep can lead to burn out, depression, etc. All of which will eventually negatively impact that employee’s work performance and firm’s success.

Trust and Autonomy-

* Only 40% of employees indicated that their employer makes changes based on feedback;

It is no secret that when managers provide employees a say in how and when “things” get done, those employees tend to feel more connected to the firm’s mission…and report better mental health.

Value and Appreciation-

* While 78% of employees recognize how their contributions impact the company’s success, only 59% felt appreciated by their employer;

With the high cost of turnover one must consider the following: “Research confirms that employers who provide positive recognition improve employee engagement and performance and increase organizational stability.”

Psychological Safety & Belonging-

* >60% of Gen Z employees do not feel confident in expressing their opinions at work;

When it comes to tomorrow’s workforce, this is one area begging for attention. Why? Because when employees feel safe at work, they are better positioned to advocate for themselves and others.

Equity and Support-

* <50% of employees indicated that their employer encourages clear and transparent communication.

With only 44% of employees agreeing that employers pay them what they deserve and only 54% of employees indicating that the firm’s benefits meet their needs, it is no wonder there are issues with trust, appreciation, and psychological safety.

I encourage you to download the report and consider how its findings can help improve your organization. Thank you!

Source: https://mhanational.org/2024-workplace-wellness-research?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=5a89ff59-2207-4932-a69c-c4d49ff28d1e

Grandparents / Raising Grandchildren / Opioids

Methadone’s New Role in OUD

Kids / COVID / Diabetes

Kids / Depression / Social Media?

2024 Workplace Wellness Report

Teens / Pressure / MH

Mental Health & Workplace Errors

MH of Employees / Stress / AI

Gaps: Firefighters seeking MH

MH & Vitamin D

MH & Colleges

A story of Addiction & Recovery

Do Weight Loss Drugs Work for Addictions?

Mold & Marijuana

Parts Therapy & Healing

Placenta & Burn Wounds

A Smart Ring?

Middle-aged Healing?

Dash Diet

Overcoming Workplace Gaslighting

Adult ADHD

2025: Changes to Medicare

Is Green Tea Nature’s Ozempic?

Why people lie

Are ERs setup for Kids?

How 12 oz of foam changed the NFL

NFL rolls out New, Safer Helmets?

Why KC Transit Drivers Seek a Contract

Boeing strike ends?

Are Union Members Defying their Leaders?

Japanese Union seeks Higher Wages

Construction Politics

Construction: 2024 Candidates’ Views

20% of US Construction Workers w/o Legal Status

US Milk & Undocumented Workers

More Construction & Harassment

India / Women / Harassment Strategies

Honoring Lilly Ledbetter

Public Libraries & Tomorrow’s Skills

New Career Tech School in IL

Trades & Tomorrow’s Millionaires

Outdated Money Laundering Rules

Teen Guru: How to get into Harvard

CEO Pay…320:1

CEO: Why Flip Burgers?

Natural Disasters & Misinformation

Dangers of Aerial Firefighting

Why Nations Fail

Worldwide Baby Shortage

Rapper & Literacy

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

988 in the Workplace (10/24)

Tips for Talking to Teens

Managers Guide to Suicide Postvention

Leveraging Research: World Mental Health Day 2024

The White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose (10/8/24)

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 johngaal@moaflcio.org with related questions or comments.

October 21, 2024/by Dr. John Gaal

Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights October 14

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of October 14, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how today’s marijuana is posing serious health risks for people of all ages—to the findings of a recent poll that suggests people today place Mental Health on an equal footing with Physical Health but the “healthcare system” treats these issues differently—to how China’s growing control of conflict minerals impacts the safety and security of other nations. This week I would like to take this opportunity to take a closer look at my recent trip to Washington, DC.

On October 8, 2024, I had the honor and pleasure to represent the Missouri Works initiative as I attended The White House to celebrate the 250 organizations across the USA that—over the past few years—took a leadership stance on addressing the worse drug epidemic this nation has ever seen: The Opioid Crisis. The first link below shares the Biden Administration’s vision launched on March 13, 2024:

“The White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose is a nationwide call-to-action to stakeholders across all sectors to commit to save lives by increasing training on and access to life-saving opioid overdose reversal medications.”¹

Nearly 75 of 250 major businesses, labor unions, and governmental bodies made a voluntary commitment—since last March—that were invited joined Dr Rahul Gupta to celebrate the group’s eclectic approaches to saving lives with Naloxone.² The array of organizations include but are not limited to the US Post Office, K-16 schools, places of worship, libraries, pro sports, airlines, construction job sites. All shared the spotlight this past Tuesday. The exhaustive list of the 250 organizations that stepped forward to meet The White Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose is linked below.³

Too many of us have lost family members and/or friends to the opioid epidemic. As I have mentioned previously in this blog, 5 of my friends have lost sons between the ages of 24 – 36 to opioids. To sit idly by and watch more families suffer is against my nature. The time to ACT is NOW!!!

In closing, below I noted a few items from Oct 8 that found I refreshing:

President Biden’s Drug Czar (Dr Gupta) promoted the need for EACH of us to carry Narcan (a nasal mist form of Naloxone) and include it in today’s First Aid kits;
Public schools & libraries have taken on new, modern roles of serving the 24/7 needs of their communities; and
Harm reduction strategies provide a variety of tools that can be mixed and matched to suit the needs of EACH community, workplace, etc. (i.e., free distribution of Narcan, drug disposal bags, safe injection sites, Recovery Friendly Workplaces, etc.).

Sources: [1] https://www.whitehouse.gov/savelivesfromoverdose/

[2] https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/10/08/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-over-250-organizations-made-voluntary-commitments-to-white-house-challenge-to-save-lives-from-overdose/

[3] https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Challenge-Committments.pdf

The White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose

Wellness & Well-being Highlights October 7

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of October 7, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how, in spite of OSHA’s rules, workers continue to be killed by industrial machinery-related accidents—to how your gut microbiome plays a major role in your ability to deal with stress—to the story of a teenage hacker…a repeat cybercrime offender. This week I would like to take this opportunity to take a closer look at the WSJ’s piece on Why America’s Young Men Continue to Fall Behind. As noted therein, as the playing field for young women becomes more equal, young women are taking advantage of more opportunities than young men.

While this article points to how the pandemic derailed careers and schooling for many of those floundering males, I would suggest that this problem goes back several decades and that COVID is only one piece of a bigger puzzle. As mentioned in this blog before, we:

need to consider how the “College for All” mantra—thrusted upon no less than 2 generations of OUR young Americans—has also played a part in this botched social experiment. For the most part, many college freshman are still too young (and immature) to make a decision that impacts the next 40 years. So why do we continue to aimlessly adhere to this mantra? Especially when we know that nearly 40% of those who begin college at age 18 do not complete it. In fact, what was once known as a 4-year degree is now on average a +5-year adventure! Furthermore, recent stats reveal that less than 30% of 2024 college graduates found work related to their majors. Hence, the rise of “Gap Year” programs!

must NOT forget about those HS and college graduates who were promised the earth, moon, and stars pre-2007—if they follow this “mythical” pathway—only to find out that the world’s economic crisis of 2007-11 turned yet another one of those social “promises” on its head! In fact, studies have shown that graduating in a recession has a downward impact on one’s earnings for nearly a decade. Moreover, a Stanford study pointed out that “recession graduates have higher death rates in midlife, including significantly greater risk of drug overdoses and other so-called ‘deaths of despair’.” And, need I mention the crushing student debt many of these students and their families still continue to deal with?

In closing, this problem did not happen overnight and nor will it be resolved overnight. We must continue to provide options for those who choose not to take the “college” pathway. One such program that has garnered national attention resides right here in STL: Building Union Diversity…which now has versions of it running in Kansas City, Springfield, and Columbia, MO. If you are not from one of these areas, then I suggest you look into what others are doing about creating and providing our next generation of leaders alternative pathways to college. Be a part of the solution by helping Gen Z become the next “toolbelt” generation!

Sources: https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/young-american-men-lost-c1d799f7?st=Rkj6HJ&reflink=article_gmail_share

https://moworksinitiative.org/pre-apprenticeship-in-construction/

https://www.constructiondive.com/news/gen-z-construction-recruiting-tech-benefits/728715/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:+2024-10-03+Construction+Dive+Newsletter+%5Bissue:66478%5D&utm_term=Construction+Dive

Workers Killed: OSHA’s Lockout / Tagout Rules

Feds / Fentanyl / STL Gang

Saving a Generation: The Fentanyl Crisis

Xylazine 101

Street Fentanyl Supply Declining?

Adults & Cannabis

Suicide Prevention Efforts Increase…as do Suicides

20% of Construction Workers report Anxiety or Depression

Young Men / Lost / Careers & Education Declines