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Work life balance
Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 15

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of April 15, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog highlights how AI is being designed to assist in the field of mental health therapy—to why people in their 40s need to begin now to help prevent dementia in their 60s—to how a “non-traditional” recruit has leveraged her eclectic background in order to secure her “rightful” place in the STL construction industry. This week I would like to focus on the new CDC report indicating that the Suicide Rate for 2022 was the highest since 1941…a 3% increase from the year prior. Please note that well over 50% of these deaths were related to firearms and nearly 14% linked to drug poisonings. In a previous blog I wrote about the importance of controlling the access to lethal means. Whether it is a gun lock or a lockbox for prescription drugs, it would do us well as a society to become more informed on this vital life & death matter (See: https://www.saferhomescollaborative.org/).

In addition, rates of suicide for specific populations have increased (i.e., College Athletes: in past 20 years, from 7.6% to 15.3%). Of related interest, health care professionals are reporting rates of burnout and depression nearing 50%. While suicide is the leading cause of death for male physician residents, it remains more common among female physicians vs female non-physicians.

It is important to remember that a death by suicide should NEVER be based on one factor. Demographics, culture, and trauma are just a few important risk factors…not to mention the lingering effects of COVID (i.e., social isolation/loneliness, underserved populations, etc.) as well as a workforce shortage.

The good news is that more and more organizations, across various industrial sectors, are realizing the importance of trying approaches that veer from traditional pathways. Whether it is researchers designing an app that utilizes artificial intelligence to overcome barriers in order to assist those in need of treatment/guidance or a Police Department working with a local behavioral health agency in an effort to reduce fatal law enforcement encounters, the message is clear:

Less TALK, more ACTION.

 

Sources: https://www.cbs.com/shows/video/zpgz6gxWBXDzun8djJm5lS5auOjqjxsa/

https://muextbusinessand1.podbean.com/e/journeyintobuildingtrade/

https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/a-year-of-record-high-suicide-rates?ekey=RUtJRDo0ODgyNTJFMC0yNkNBLTQzMEUtQkQxQS1DNTNEODcxREU3NDQ%3D&utm_campaign=emailname&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=302215186&utm_source=hs

https://www.stlpr.org/law-order/2024-04-12/st-louis-team-of-purple-shirts-diverts-police-intervention

 

 

MH benefits of the solar eclipse

 

National Suicide Rate Increases

 

Student-athlete Suicide Rates Double

 

Clinicians & Suicide

 

911: Overstressed & Underpaid

 

Teens / Parents / College & Anxiety

 

AI & MH

 

Purple Shirts: STL Police MH Intervention

 

Future of Psychedelic Therapy?

 

Toxic: Bullying & Bystanders

 

Can Labor & Mgt reform HC?

 

A state’s secure MH facility

 

Do YOU need therapy?

 

Reducing Loneliness

 

More on Grief

 

Siblings: Love & Grief

 

Middle-aged…Preventing Dementia?

 

Retired & Invisible

 

Beware: Arthritis Drugs & Your Pet

 

How to improve your Golf Swing

 

Personal Safety & Your Smart Phone

 

UAW & Mexico (1)

 

UAW & Mexico (2)

 

Slow Start: Amazon Labor Union

 

More On DBRA

 

The Hamptons’ Day Laborers

 

STL’s Nightmare: Downtown

 

Next Gen / Trades / Careers

 

Is college worth it?

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

A BUD Success Story (Let it Raine)

 

US-DOL & MH Parity

 

Stand Down: Struck-by

 

Health & Safety of Young Workers

 

Canada’s Opioid Crisis

 

 

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.

 

April 15, 2024/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 Gaal2024-04-15 16:16:032024-04-15 16:16:03Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 15
Work life balance
Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 8

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of April 8, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog highlights how a construction industry heavyweight made a 5-year commitment towards suicide prevention—to whether or not technology was/was not used to inflict brain injuries upon various US govt workers—to a topic I visited a couple of months ago regarding the improvements made concerning head protection in the construction industry. This week I would like to highlight the rise in alcohol consumption especially for those over 65. COVID is often blamed for this increase of substance misuse. The fact is that between 2020-21, according to the CDC, there were more deaths related to alcohol (~178k) than all drug overdoses combined! People over 65 were linked to 38% of that aforementioned total. There are many layers to this onion to unpeel but it is worth mentioning a few: in general, people are living longer; alcohol is viewed as a social “lubricant”; binge drinking is on the rise; and there more women in the workforce than decades ago. To be sure, we cannot ignore the data before us:

  • older bodies cannot process alcohol as quickly;
  • besides being affiliated with liver disease, alcohol is also linked to an increase in heart and cancer-related issues;
  • while alcohol misuse exacerbates cognitive decline, it can also impede sleep, reaction time, and balance…contributing to falls; and
  • alcohol interacts negatively with an array of prescription drugs…at times resulting in over-sedation.

The NYT article linked below advocates for the elimination of barriers for treatment noting that while the Mental Health Parity law of 2008 includes access to treatment for substance use disorders, Medicare does not apply. Having recently turned 65, I reflect on this topic with +45 years of experience. I am encouraged to see that this matter is being taken seriously as more and more conferences are holding mocktail events and/or “Friends of Bill” meetings as part of their agenda. So, here’s my ask: Let’s all do our part to NOT put vulnerable people into questionable venues for the sake of “conducting business” as usual.

 

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/30/health/seniors-alcohol-consumption.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

 

Bechtel donated $7m to AFSP for Construction Suicide Prevention efforts

 

Operating Engineers focus on Mental Health

 

Urgent Care & MH

 

Psychological Safety in the Workplace

 

Medicare/Medicaid & MH

 

TX Judge & MH

 

UK Teachers & Suicide Prevention

 

A Sense of Purpose?

 

Seniors & Alcohol Consumption

 

Siblings / Caring / Brain

 

Time & Balance

 

Time & Friendships

 

Supporting Someone w/ Anxiety Disorder

 

Floatation Therapy & Anxiety Disorders

 

ROI & Well-being Tools

 

MH & The Sandwich Generation

 

Dementia & Memories

 

Memory / Art / Trauma

 

Dogs / Breath / Trauma

 

On taking Multivitamins

 

On Turmeric’s benefits

 

Napping @ Work?

 

Dangerous Meditation?

 

Update: Table Saw Safety

 

Havana Syndrome & Brain Injuries (1)

 

Havana Syndrome & Brain Injuries (2)

 

Head Protection Improvements (1)

 

Head Protection Improvements (2)

 

Head Protection Improvements (3)

 

States Undercutting Fed Child Labor Laws

 

OSHA Inspection Final Walkaround Rule

 

Dartmouth / NCAA / Players Union

 

Amazon’s Anti-Union $pending

 

AI & Labor

 

On being indispensable

 

UK coming for US white-collar jobs

 

WCK & Gaza/Israel Disaster

 

How much is needed in one’s savings to retire?

 

Gen Z & Trades

 

Is college worth $100k/year?

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

Work & Recovery

 

Pilot Funding for RFW

 

Safer Homes (CALM) Training

 

Resiliency during Financial Strain

 

 

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.

 

April 9, 2024/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 Gaal2024-04-09 14:47:282024-04-09 14:47:28Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 8
Work life balance
Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 1

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of April 1, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog highlights how Metal Health stigma is now being referred to as “silent discrimination”—to how loneliness is affecting workers—to the need to comprehend the human and economic impacts of the Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. This week I would like to highlight the unintended consequences of sports gambling. In spite of Pete Rose’s MLB betting scandal several years ago, a 2018 US Supreme Court decision paved the way for the ubiquitous online gambling at the college and professional levels that we see today. Whether it is a pitcher’s interpreter skimming funds or players shaving points to cover their own debts, since this blog focuses on worker wellness, I would be remiss not to mention that gambling can be addictive—not much different than alcohol or cocaine—because it triggers the part of our brain that releases dopamine…also known as the “pleasure” hormone! As I explained in a previous blog, contemporary science suggests that the young adult brain does not fully form until one is 25 years old. As such, I think the WSJ article linked below serves as the canary in the coal mine. Why? Allowing an addictive habit to enter our college campuses for the sake of making money to offset administrative expenses may—in the long run—end up being more detrimental to our society than the current student loan debacle. Case in point, please consider how “prop” bets have changed the nature of merely betting on a game. Not to mention, if fed and state legislators do not soon install much-needed guard rails (i.e., disallowing players to bet on their own sport, coaches & staff banned/jailed for leaking inside info, etc.), sports we currently trust to be “unscripted” will eventually sink to a level of believability to that of the WWE.

 

Sources: https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/hr-skills-news/understanding-silent-discrimination-construction-industry/133333/

https://www.thesafetymag.com/ca/topics/safety-and-ppe/why-loneliness-is-a-top-health-concern-for-workers/483004?utm_medium=email&utm_source=rasa_io&utm_campaign=newsletter

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/baltimore-bridge-collapse-growing-latino-labor-force-hispanics-rcna145201

https://www.wsj.com/sports/ohtani-sports-gambling-scandal-927fdd22?st=jhrubw434xvfe1k&reflink=article_gmail_share

 

Homeless & Mentally Ill

 

Canadians & MH

 

Construction / Stigma = Silent Discrimination

 

UK / Construction / MH

 

Are “clean needle” programs legal?

 

“Open Air” MH treatment?

 

Does Workplace Wellness work?

 

Workers & Loneliness

 

Loneliness / Personality / Time

 

Coping w/ Anxiety, Anger, Fear…

 

Improving Emotional Intelligence

 

Vagus Nerve & Emotional Health

 

Dementia: Diabetes / Pollution / Alcohol

 

Glucose Monitor

 

Chronic Illness & Grief

 

Speed Marriage Therapy?

 

Is cinnamon dangerous?

 

Backlash: Sports Gambling

 

Sports Gambling & Rose

 

Sports Gambling & Ohanti

 

Smartphones & Children

 

MO high school & RFW

 

Construction / Phoenix / Heat

 

NFL: New Kickoff Rule

 

On making sports SAFER for kids

 

Key Bridge Collapse

 

Baltimore bridge & Legal fight ahead

 

Latinos & Bridge

 

Port Workers & Bridge

 

UAW & VW (1)

 

UAW & VW (2)

 

Boeing’s Union wants a Seat

 

Contractors & Back Wages

 

New Census Categories (1)

 

New Census Categories (2)

 

Cesar Chavez & Workers Rights

 

Single Women & Retirement

 

Future of St. Louis Metro Police?

 

Chicago & Pre-Apprenticeships

 

STL Co Jail & Beauty Shop Training

 

Increasing K-12 absences

 

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

Loneliness (Free)

 

Denver Zoo & MH for vets, etc.

 

MHA MH Tool Kit

 

MN MH Tool Kit

 

Update: NSC Narcan Training

 

 

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.

 

April 1, 2024/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 Initiative2024-04-01 13:40:142024-04-01 13:40:14Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 1
Work life balance
Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights March 25

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of March 25, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog highlights how some Spring Break locations are providing Narcan to guests in order to address the opioid crisis—to how loneliness and isolation continue to impact our societies long after COVID—to how immigration is actually helping the US economy (by filling low wage jobs) vs that of our Asian counterparts where birth rates have steadily dropped. This week I would like to highlight the deluge of reports regarding the topic of HAPPINESS. Whether its comparing cultures, genders, or age groups, in most cases, the Nordic countries appear to hold most of these cherished top slots. Issues to consider:

1) While the reasons for this may be as difficult to count as hairs on one’s head, I cannot help but reflect on my experience visiting a trade show booth at the World Skills Contest in Germany during the summer of 2013. As I approached the Finland’s booth, I noticed a booklet on how their secondary vocational educational system integrates Mental Health trainings into their coursework. This reassured me that the path the Carpenters in St. Louis recently undertook indeed had merit (We implemented an online Financial Literacy course as a launching point to address broader Mental Health issues in the construction industry);

2) The US dropped out of the top 20 ranking. Why? Mostly due to the dip in happiness reported among people under 30; and

3) While women report to be happier—in general—they, at the same time, report to be more distressed—day-to-day–vs men.

 

Upon further inspection, one may find that a “culture”—at home and work—may hold the secrets to the Nordic’s success. One where “win at ALL costs” (mostly driven by age-old paternal structures) has been replaced by caring and cooperation!

 

Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/20/us/world-happiness-report-finland-us.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/relationships/why-arewomen-both-sadder-and-happier-than-men-4ffe1ba4?st=5nqgoak2u5jlgf4&reflink=article_gmail_share

 

 

Spring Break & Narcan

 

Female Happiness Paradox

 

Youth & Happiness (1)

 

Youth & Happiness (2)

 

Culture & Happiness

 

Finland & Happiness (1)

 

Finland & Happiness (2)

 

Canada & Happiness

 

Income & Children’s Brains

 

Adult Children & Drug Misuse

 

Mislabeled HEMP Products

 

Climate Change & Anxiety

 

Canada’s Workers & Isolation

 

Exercise & Isolation

 

Midlife Loneliness

 

Gambling addiction

 

Online Therapy & Insurance?

 

More on the abortion pill

 

MO doulas / Wages / Legislation

 

More on Grief

 

Coincidence & Conspiracy

 

Fasting & Your Heart

 

Parkinson’s Skin Test

 

Toe Spacers & Balance

 

Excessive Blinking?

 

Workers / Delayed HC / Costs

 

More on Havana Syndrome

 

Social Workers & Licensing

 

On banning Asbestos

 

Vets & Suicide

 

Construction / Helmets / Concussions

 

UAW’s innovative playbook

 

NLRB/ VW / UAW

 

Union wage comparison

 

States & Pay Transparency

 

TX / Workers / Immigration law

 

How immigration helps USA

 

FL homeless ban

 

CA Prop 1 (Homelessness)

 

Mexico / Timeshare fraud / Cartels

 

Attracting & Retaining Gen Z

 

Child identity theft

 

Reverse Mentoring

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

Mental Health First Aid

 

Ask the Expert (Naloxone 101)

 

 

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.

 

March 25, 2024/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 Gaal2024-03-25 14:23:312024-03-25 14:23:31Wellness & Well-being Highlights March 25
In the News, Partner Spotlight, Success Stories

Partner Spotlight: Ashley Fleming

Reliable transportation is vital to obtaining and maintaining a job in the trades, especially in Southwest Missouri, where public transportation may be limited. A missed car payment, needed repairs, or money for a tank of gas could pose a seemingly insurmountable barrier for students in the Apprentice Ready Program. However, many Missouri Works Initiative students can overcome this challenge and graduate through the generosity of The Community Foundation of the Ozarks’ Let’s Get to Work grant program.

“In the Fall of 2021, the CFO hosted a series of donor education events focused on philanthropy and workforce development. Throughout the series, we heard from Springfield employers about the challenges they encounter in hiring and retaining employees. One of the recurring barriers was reliable transportation,” shares Ashley Fleming, CFO Grant Program Coordinator.

“In response, the CFO launched the Let’s Get to Work grant program,” says Ashley. “The grant program provides funding to nonprofit agencies, including the Missouri Works Initiative, working with low-income individuals in acquiring or maintaining employment by supporting related transportation expenses, including anything from paying for insurance costs and licensing fees to paying for car repairs, to purchasing e-bikes,” she says. “The goal of the grant program is to help individuals experiencing job loss or reduction of hours due to lack of reliable transportation move from unemployment to employment, or from part-time employment to full-time,” says Ashley. 

With barriers like reliable transportation removed, graduates of the Apprentice Ready Program continue to build better futures for themselves, their families, and the Ozarks as a whole. MWI appreciates the CFO grant to support its students entering and completing construction apprenticeships.

March 22, 2024/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 Initiative2024-03-22 14:21:342025-03-24 17:13:54Partner Spotlight: Ashley Fleming
Missouri Apprentice Ready Program, News, Success Stories

Sisters in Recovery, Whitney and Esbeydi’s Story: Missouri Works Initiative

 

When Kansas City Apprentice Ready Program graduates Whitney Leaming and Esbeydi Villalobos first heard about the Missouri Works Initiative, the new friends were seeking a brighter future for themselves and their children. Both were residents of Amethyst Place, which provides transitional housing and support for women and their children while the women are in recovery from substance use disorder. When Amethyst Place began an expansion project, Whitney and Esbeydi met Kansas City Program Coordinator Rudy Chavez. 

The women of Amethyst Place consider themselves sisters, and for Whitney and Esbeydi, joining the Missouri Apprentice Ready (MAR) Program not only provided the opportunity to give back to the place that had given them a fresh start but also helped them each create a foundation for sustainable careers. “I had already had ideas on wanting to be in construction – I just didn’t know what part or what union or how it worked. I really had no idea or information on any of it,” says Whitney. “While listening to Rudy, something just clicked, and I knew I wanted to help build Amethyst Place and become a part of the unions.”

For Esbeydi, who had just gotten her GED, the MAR Program was exactly what she sought. “I wasn’t interested in going to college. I wanted a career path that would pay me to learn a skill set,” she says. “I really liked that the program let us visit all the trades. We got to learn what they do and what they have to offer and try it hands-on for ourselves. That was the most fun!” 

Since completing the program, life has drastically changed for the better for both Whitney and Esbeydi. “ Before I started with the laborers union Local 264, I was on government assistance,” says Whitney. “Now I am fully self-supporting. I can afford to pay for my daughter’s child care and all the food for myself and my family. I even have health insurance through the Laborers. I do not need government assistance, which gives me all the confidence in the world that I can support my family as a single mother.” Esbeydi is now part of the local 124, The Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. “I am a pre-apprentice working and learning to be an electrician, and I love it. My kids are watching me grow, which makes me so happy. This program helped me find a career where I enjoy working because I want to learn. I am very thankful.”

If you are curious about the trades and looking for a sustainable, life-changing career, Esbeydi and Whitney encourage you to find out more and take a chance. “If you’re considering doing the program, do it,” encourages Esbeydi. “It will change your life like it changed mine. You will be so happy you did!”

“I would absolutely encourage you to try it out,” says Whitney. “The worst case scenario is you get $500 for doing the program, and you get to learn about all these different careers and life paths you can take. The world is doing nothing but getting more expensive, and the Union definitely lives up to the idea of taking care of its people,” she says. “Also, you get to earn while you learn. Even with zero experience, you can make money just starting because the union has standards on how much somebody should make based on their work, not the color of your skin or whether you’re male or female.”

Start your journey here.

March 21, 2024/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 Initiative2024-03-21 19:30:592025-04-01 22:11:14Sisters in Recovery, Whitney and Esbeydi’s Story: Missouri Works Initiative
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.

March 21, 2024/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 Initiative2024-03-21 18:47:492024-03-21 20:11:30Sammy’s Story: Missouri Works Initiative
Missouri Apprentice Ready Program, News, Success Stories

Riley’s Story: Missouri Works Initiative

Riley was looking for a more fulfilling career and had been thinking about pursuing a trade, though she wasn’t sure which one would be the best fit for her. “I was looking at the Missouri Works Initiative’s website and saw their recommendation of the program in St. Louis for women interested in the construction trades,” shares Riley. “I thought the program would help expose me to all my options and help me make an educated decision.”

Throughout the program, Riley got all the information and support she needed to make the best career choice. “I valued how much Aurora and the many guest speakers shared their experiences and advice on succeeding in this industry. I think the amount of information and training we received also made me more qualified and confident to start an apprenticeship,” says Riley. “Being able to visit different job sites and trade school locations helped me visualize and balance my interest in each trade. But I think most importantly, because of the program, I gained connections to people who are rooting for my success as a tradeswoman.”

Now, Riley is thriving in a satisfying and sustainable career as an apprentice with Mid-America’s Carpenter’s Regional Council Local 92. “I now have a career that I enjoy, and I feel a deeper sense of purpose,” Riley says. “I don’t think I would have had the motivating force to pursue carpentry on my own, considering I didn’t have any connections to Union tradespeople nor the level of confidence and knowledge that the program encouraged. At the end of the day, I have a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, and I am also the strongest and in the best physical condition of my life.” 

Are you a woman interested in a career in the trades but need help figuring out where to start? You can find the answers and directions, just like Riley did. “Whatever your situation may be, I believe everyone has something to gain from the program,” says Riley. “You will have to be respectful of yourself, show up, and be ready to work the program, but six weeks isn’t that long of a commitment considering the time in the Apprentice Ready Program in St. Louis will set you up for a career that may positively impact the rest of your life.”

Start your journey here.

March 21, 2024/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 Initiative2024-03-21 18:43:102025-04-01 22:12:23Riley’s Story: Missouri Works Initiative
Work life balance
Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights March 18

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of March 18, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog highlights challenges (one from The White House and the other regarding First Responders) both concerning the opioids crisis—to how some online gaming sites provide venues to exploit vulnerable children—to how domestic violence has now been recognized as the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries. This week we have an opportunity to examine a recently released report on the State of the World’s Mental Health of its internet-enabled global population. It appears that the decline in MH, across the 71 countries studied, which began pre-COVID, continued through 2021 and mainly remains stagnant. With a 15-minute anonymous survey, these authors examine the concept of mental well-being which “inherently reflects an individual’s sense of how their inner state impacts their ability to function within their life context.” Key findings: MH challenges are linked to the younger the age of cell phone ownership and increased intake of ultra-processed foods; and the wealth of a nation does not equate to better well-being (Note: UK and Australia ranked 2nd and 6th to last, respectively, and the Dominican Republic and USA ranked 1st and 29th, respectively). Interestingly, another article this week touches on how what we eat negatively impacts our MH, sleep, and learning. Apparently, ultra-processed foods hit our brain’s reward system not unlike alcohol and addictive drugs. In fact, scientists have found that people who eat high-fat, high-sugar snacks also had changes in how their brains learned. In addition, such a diet is linked to increased anxiety and depression which may result in a proposed call for inclusion of new MH disorder: ultra-processed food use disorder. As I reflect, maybe there was something to that saying I heard back in the 1970s: You are what you eat!

 

Sources: https://mentalstateoftheworld.report/2023_read/

https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/ultra-processed-food-brain-health-7a3f9827

 

 

State of World’s MH

 

The UK is not a happy place

 

White House & OD Challenge

 

EMTs & Curbing Opioid ODs (1)

 

EMTs & Curbing Opioid ODs (2)

 

Blackpool’s Deaths of Despair

 

Alaska / Friends / Suicides

 

Ukraine / PTSD / Psychedelics

 

Workplace Safety: More than just policies

 

Audit / Psychological Safety / Employees

 

UN / Deaths / Children  

 

Gaming / Kids / Torture

 

Kids & Artificial Turf

 

Students / Delta 8 / Public Health

 

Hospitals & Maternal Care?

 

MO / Infections / Babies

 

Whales & Menopause

 

Parents / Adult Kids / Finances

 

Weight Training / Heart Disease / Longevity

 

More on Strength Training

 

Wegovy & Weight Loss?

 

Prisons & Elder Care

 

Elderly Boomers & Staying home

 

Mindfulness / Tech / Isolation

 

Your Brain / Grief / Healing

 

Your Brain & Processed Foods

 

NOPD & Child (Sexual) Abuse

 

Domestic Violence & TBIs

 

Skiing / Helmets / Injury Prevention

 

Suspected CTE & Donating Brain to Science

 

NFL Concussions & Cognitive Decline

 

STL Rail Workers Picket

 

East Coast Dockworkers Threaten Strike

 

Paris Olympics Strike?

 

NLRB Certifies College Basketball Players

 

Recent NLRB Challenges

 

Construction Contractor & Wage Theft

 

America’s Work Attitudes

 

Gen Z / Remote Work / Social Lives

 

STEM Role Model Inspires Girls

 

Women / Equal Pay / Wage Gap

 

New meaning of Success vs Money & Career

 

No title, No raise?

 

Has Boeing gone bad?

 

Teamsters / Support / Biden

 

SEIU / Support / Biden

 

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

Loneliness

 

Muckville: Ag & Suicide

 

Social Media & Teen MH

 

Mindfulness Workshops

 

 

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.

 

March 18, 2024/by Braxton Payne
https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/iStock-697895326.jpg 779 1345 Braxton Payne https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png Braxton Payne2024-03-18 15:22:062024-03-18 15:22:06Wellness & Well-being Highlights March 18
Work life balance
Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights March 11

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of March 11, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog offers an opportunity to examine several articles citing the barriers/challenges women continue to face in the “modern” workplace—to how sleep apnea impacts one’s cognition—to which US jobs are considered the most “physically” demanding. Today, I wish to shed some light on the importance of EACH and EVERY ONE of US taking action. Since 2016, a lot has been written and discussed about mental health issues in the workplace. This week we provide access to a just-published White Paper on MH, addiction awareness, and suicide prevention in the US construction industry.[1] In addition, this week we saw a renowned worldwide construction contractor make a SEVEN MILLION DOLLAR donation to help reduce suicides in the construction industry. [2] While the White Paper “speaks” to the MH needs of an industry, the donation to AFSP addresses the “action” step noted earlier. Needless to say, most of us do not have these kinds of monetary resources to make impactful changes. Nevertheless, as mentioned in last week’s blog, each of us can take 5-minutes to provide a constructive comment to the US-DOL.[3] In so doing, you will become part of a process to change the rules Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAP) abide by…which have NOT been seriously updated since 1937! So, PLEASE join me in taking “action” by submitting a brief comment that supports the inclusion of Mental Health training in US-DOL’s RAP standards going forward.

NOTE: The DEADLINE is MARCH 18, 2024 @ 5p (ET).

 

Sources: [1] https://static1.squarespace.com/static/58b628c217bffc493333bbfd/t/65e07a384c7529463d428243/1709210172801/20240229-CWM-White-Paper-FINAL.pdf

[2] https://www.constructiondive.com/news/bechtel-suicide-construction-pledge/709385/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202024-03-06%20Construction%20Dive%20Newsletter%20%5Bissue:59795%5D&utm_term=Construction%20Dive

[3] https://www.constructforstl.org/perspective-please-comment-on-need-for-mental-health-training-in-apprentice-programs/

 

Your voice matters: MH & Apprenticeship

 

Bechtel invests $7m in Construction Suicide Prevention

 

White Paper: MH in Construction

 

Well-being Check-in

 

AGT & MH

 

More on OR’s Measure 110 Rollback

 

TN Lawyer / Opioids / Discrimination

 

Fentanyl’s Body Farm

 

Hackers & US Healthcare

 

Fixing Broken EAPs

 

CAN / Women / MH Leaves

 

DST & Sleep

 

Sleep Apnea & Memory

 

COVID Update (1)

 

COVID Update (2)

 

Bouldering Therapy & Depression

 

AI / Teen Girls / Exploitation

 

Women & Exercise

 

Women & Financial Stress

 

End-of-Life Guidelines

 

Your “Hearing” Number

 

Brains & Blasts (1)

 

Brains & Blasts (2)

 

Judge blocks NLRB franchise rule

 

CAN / Gender Divide / Workplace

 

India / Women / Sports

 

College Basketball & Unions

 

The MOST Demanding Jobs in USA

 

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

Chair Yoga

 

Building a Better Jobsite Culture (Part 2)

 

Retaining Women in Construction

 

 

 

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.

 

March 11, 2024/by Braxton Payne
https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/iStock-697895326.jpg 779 1345 Braxton Payne https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png Braxton Payne2024-03-11 14:32:522024-03-11 14:32:52Wellness & Well-being Highlights March 11
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