b'WCA EDUCATIONA CRISIS INCONSTRUCTIONJeremy Remillard opens up about his journey through mental health and what others in the industry may be experiencing.By Twila DriedgerJeremy Remillard is a strong, self-assured site superintendent.Every jobsite has to have a safety bulletin board where all the Having worked in construction for more than 15 years, hesafety information is readily available at all times, explains knows his way around a construction site and how to lead aRemillard. I went and made my own. I took a bunch of project team. information from the internetfrom the Canadian Mental But behind Remillards tough exterior and project know-howHealth Association, from the Mood Disorders Association is a guy who deals with anxiety, ADHD and bouts ofof Manitoba, from City of Winnipeg programs, just a bunch depression. Remillard is opening up about his challengesof information and phone numbers. And when I do my with mental health in hopes of helping his colleagues in theorientation, at the end I point out that the bulletin board is construction industry. there for anybody to access at any time. And if they need to Being a dude, being a construction guy, there was never goingtalk to anybody, Im here.to be a conversation about it, Remillard says, explaining thatFortunately for Remillard, he has full support from his employer, up until a few years ago, mental health wasnt even mentionedAkman Construction. In fact, he says the company plans to on construction sites. My journey is ongoing, and the onlyimplement mental health resources on all their jobsites.reason its ongoing is because I understand how important it isRecently, Remillard teamed up with his brother to launch to keep the conversation going. @HardHatsMB, a peer-focused mental health and suicide Not only is mental health rarely acknowledged in the industry,prevention group for construction workers and their families. when it is, Remillard says, it is commonly criticized. RemillardIt has to be a peer-to-peer-based program, he says. Guys is passionate about changing the stigma surrounding mentaldont want to listen to someone they cant relate to.health in construction and supporting his crew and other employees who are experiencing similar issues.And while it is not always easy to be vulnerable in a community Depression and anxiety are growing higher than musculoskeletallike construction, Remillard is willing to share his story if it helps disorders in the construction sector. According to the Centerssomeone else feel supported and find resources.for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stats show thatEven if I just help one person, its worth it, he says. construction is one of the most at-risk industries for suicide and one in five construction workers deal with mental health issues.Construction is the perfect storm, Remillard explains. Its a male-dominated industry. Its been frowned about to discussMENTAL WELLNESS COURSESmental health; its never been part of a safety program, andThe WCAs Education Program offers courses that will theres been no support network for anyone in the industry. give employers and employees the practical tools and Add that to a competitive and stressful workplace, hightechniques to address the mental health and wellness of incidence of alcohol and substance abuse and the anxiety overtheir crew, including: continuing income to support families due to seasonal layoffs and other factors.Mental Health in Construction: You Cant Ignore It AnymoreAs a front-line supervisor, Remillard feels a responsibility for Employers Guide to Navigating Mental Health ineveryone on his jobsiteboth their physical and mental safety. So much so that recently Remillard obtained his certificate inYour Company mental health first aid from the Mental Health Commission of Canada and is using his knowledge and experiences to interactInvest in your mental health and register confidently about mental health with his family, friends,for courses at winnipegconstruction.cacommunity and in his workplace.Issue 4 Winter Edition 2020 BUILD MANITOBA 15'