May is National Mental Health Month. Believe it or not, helping our colleagues who are struggling with mental health concerns comes down to the willingness to listen. Boldt Co. has developed an amazing peer-to-peer suicide and mental health awareness program. The program encourages its employees who are struggling with their mental health to share their difficulties with fellow employees who are “gatekeepers.” The “gatekeepers” participate in ongoing training sessions and quarterly meetings. Gatekeepers are identified by purple stickers placed on their hard hats, computers, and desks. It’s about making it more comfortable for people to ask for help,” said Holly Lifke, Chief Human Resources Officer and Executive Vice President at Boldt. Suicide rates among those in the construction industry are twice that of other industries, and suicide across all industries has increased 40% in less than 20 years. These deaths can be prevented. While the mostly male workforce in construction enforces a prevailing culture of unexpressed feelings, we still struggle across all industries to make the mental health discussion a comfortable one. Lifke explains that mental health is a business issue, not a personal issue. By 2030 depression will be the leading cause of diminished productivity in economically advanced countries. Those of us who are in HR need to take the initiative and change the narrative. We need to make the conversation about mental health commonplace so that our employees don’t hide it from us or one another. Boldt’s program is amazing because it makes individual struggles a shared struggle, and it eliminates the isolation that mental illness so mercilessly imposes. If you are reading this and are struggling with depression, please reach out to someone and ask for help. We need you here. The world will not be as wonderful without you. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255