During the episode, Kris Corbett, Director at Atlas Injury Prevention, discusses how to manage mental health as a construction worker — a vital issue as the suicide rates in this industry are extremely high. She informs our listeners that 16% of construction workers feel some sort of anxiety and depression and that 1 in 5 Americans live with a mental illness. Kris, Matt, and Chris talk about potential factors that contribute to these alarmingly high statistics.
Kris also provides strategies for managing stress, anxiety, and depression. Some of these strategies include connecting with coworkers when they seem off and remembering to breathe deeply when feeling stressed or overwhelmed. She also gives an example of what she does to relax, which she calls the “rule of five.”
Kris has over 20 years of experience working in Wellness, Safety, and Injury Prevention, creating innovative and effective products and services for various companies. She is a nationally recognized speaker and has been featured at the National Ergonomic Conference, National Constructor Conference, ASSE National Conference, and CURT National Conference. Kris is not a mental health professional, nor does she consider herself an expert. If you need to reach out to a mental health professional or are looking for additional resources to help your mental health, visit: https://www.osha.gov/workplace-stress/outreach-materials