Mental Health & Substance Abuse

The SMOHIT Helpline

The SMOHIT Helpline is a unique and personalized mental health service for our SMART members and their families, operated by Jeremy Holburn with assistance from a variety of mental health professionals. Although the Helpline is available 24/7, it is possible that when you call you may be prompted to leave a message, most likely due to our therapists helping other members. In most cases you will receive a callback within a three-hour window.

The SMOHIT Member Assistance Program

The Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust Inc. (SMOHIT) works with the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) workers to provide its Member Assistance Program (MAP). This mental health awareness and action program highlights the issues associated with substance use disorder and suicide prevention, then educates union members on solutions, helping members and their families access those resources when they need them.

The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP)

The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP) is an organization that raises awareness about suicide prevention and provides resources and tools to create a zero-suicide industry by uniting and supporting the construction community.  With a suicide rate that is four times greater than the national average, the construction industry is facing a crisis. Construction workers are at a heightened risk for suicide for a variety of reasons that can all be addressed – starting with changing the culture in the workplace.  CIASP is dedicated to changing the statistics by educating and equipping organizations, industry service providers and construction professionals to STAND Up for suicide prevention and address it as a health and safety priority. There mission is to provide and disseminate information and resources for suicide prevention and mental health promotion in construction with the goal of creating a zero-suicide industry.

CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training Suicide Prevention Materials

The CPWR is a nonprofit dedicated to reducing occupational injuries, illnesses and fatalities in the construction industry. They have been providing a growing number of resources available on Suicide Prevention to help organizations and individuals understand the issue, start a conversation, and play a role in supporting friends, co-workers and family members. The information on the website is intended to help construction employers, unions and workers quickly find information on suicide prevention.

NIOSH – Suicide Prevention Materials for Suicide Prevention

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is a department of the CDC and provides research focused on the study of worker safety and health, and empowering employers and workers to create safe and healthy workplaces.  NIOSH has created several materials including the CDC’s “Preventing Suicide: A Technical Package of Policy, Programs, and Practices” that is located on their above website.

OSHA Materials for Suicide

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has developed materials  to promote workplace mental health and suicide prevention awareness.  Materials can be located at the above website on workplace mental health and suicide prevention awareness in multiple languages that reflect diversity in the workforce and encourage workers' sense of belonging.

SMACNA Suicide Prevention Hardhat Stickers and Chips

SMACNA, NECA, MCAA, and TAUC have joined forces to help spread awareness about mental health. Construction is a hard and high-stress profession and has one of the highest rates of suicide in the nation. Our four trade associations are uniting behind fixing this problem and shining a light on the importance of your mental health. Together they have released a “chip” and “hardhat sticker” with the new suicide and crisis prevention number; 988. Our goal is to provide our members, or someone they know, a resource of where they can get help. We want to spread the message of “It’s okay to not be okay.” And it’s time for the construction industry to step up and change the culture of not speaking up when you have a problem.  Not all injuries are visible. Not all trauma is evident. Your mental health matters. If you are a SMACNA Chapter or member, please click here to place your order for hardhat stickers and chips. 

If you have questions, please email Justin Crandol at jcrandol@smacna.org.