The Sault Community Career Centre’s Construction Apprenticeship Support Program (CASP) has partnered with the Sault Ste. Marie Construction Association, local construction sector employers and mental health service providers to present Building Resilience: A Virtual Mental Health Summit for the Construction Sector. Hosted by former NHL player Aaron Gavey, this free virtual event will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, from 6 – 8 p.m. All construction sector employers, workers and job seekers are welcome to attend. A complimentary takeout dinner is included with registration, and prizes will be awarded.

Mental health is often referred to as the construction sector’s silent epidemic. According to Statistics Canada, 33 per cent of men in the construction sector report poor mental health. Another survey suggests that 64 per cent of construction workers want better physical and mental well-being support from their employers. In the US, construction workers have the highest suicide rate compared to every other sector.

A contributor to these statistics is the stigma surrounding mental health, talking about your feelings and asking for help. The construction sector is mainly male-dominated, and many gender stereotypes still stand in the way of making real change, but the conversation is growing. More and more of the sector’s workers are speaking up about the need for mental health support.

The Building Resilience virtual event aims to increase mental health awareness and remove the stigma that comes with it by shining a light on mental well-being, substance misuse, and suicide prevention. Learn about local mental health supports, network with other sector professionals, and celebrate our local employers working to support their employees.

Special guest speaker Peter Corbett, Machinist and Professor of Mechanical Trades at Sault College, will discuss the importance of building your own resiliency ‘toolbox.’ Grace Tiersma, Research Project Coordinator with the De Novo Treatment Centre, will present data from the Research and Tools for the Addiction and Suicide Crisis research project.

To attend this free event, RSVP here before Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022. For more information, please contact Melissa Tremblay, CASP Program Administrator, at 705.759.0909 ext. 4228 or email melissa.tremblay@saultcareercentre.ca.

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