It’s been said that “Life is not for the faint of heart.” We may have a lot of joy in our lives – being part of a community of family, friends, work colleagues, hobbyists – finding purpose and satisfaction day to day through our work or other activities.
But sometimes we experience challenges: feeling overwhelmed, depression, anxiety, addiction, or even thoughts of suicide. Changes in the world, our workplace, our homes, our financial status and our communities can wear down our reserves and make it difficult to cope. How do we find support, community, solace and assistance when our minds don’t feel like our friends?
In this installment of Workplace Wellness, we present some resources that aim to provide support, some specifically targeted for those in the construction trades. Recommendations listed here are not meant to diagnose, assess or treat mental health conditions, but to simply offer options that can be explored for support.
ABC Total Human Health
The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) has developed a program for Total Human Health. This initiative encompasses multiple dimensions of health organized within four categories: body, heart, mind and soul. The website at abc.org/Safety/Total-Human-Health states that “Total human health is focused on building a resilient workforce connected though relationships and engaged in performing construction work to a high standard of safety, quality and effectiveness.”
Also available are Total Human Health Resources for Leadership to implement at their workplaces, which include the ABC Total Human Health Toolkit and the ABC Total Human Health Assessment. There are also materials to combat suicide through Suicide Prevention Month each September including posters, a social media toolkit and collection of toolbox talks.
ABC provides 13 articles on various mental-health related topics like depression, active listening tips, anxiety, and fear in uncertain times. Some of these articles hearken back to the 2020 pandemic, but are still applicable to current-day challenges.
ABC is also sponsoring Construction Safety Week, May 5-9, 2025. Find resources connected with that initiative here: https://www.constructionsafetyweek.com/safety-culture/mental-health-resources/.
Anxiety at Work Resiliency Training Course for Leaders & Managers
Chester Elton and Adrian Gostick are executive coaches for Intel, GE, Bank of America, CISCO, Rolls Royce, and Texas Roadhouse, among others. Together with Anthony Gostick, they authored the book Anxiety at Work, a free podcast and an Anxiety at Work Resiliency Training Course for leaders and managers.
The course explores the causes of rising workplace stress and anxiety and explores leadership practices for relieving tension and cultivating greater resilience in teams. In addition to creating a more supportive, lower stress environment where workers feel comfortable and included, it’s been shown that dramatic performance gains can be unlocked. Click here if you are a leader who would like to explore practical strategies to make any workplace better: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeoGjeEyEv0
The Tapping Solution
As this story is coming together, The 17th Annual World Tapping Summit is taking place online. This free global program offers 10 days of discussion, talks and presentations that offer tools to rewire minds away from stress and towards peace, hope, courage and healing.
What is “tapping?” It’s also known as EFT or the Emotional Freedom Technique, which has been used to treat PTSD in war veterans. It relies on a system of “tapping” on nine acupressure energy meridians that sends calming signals to the brain, and reduces the stress hormone, cortisol. This helps users move from emotions of stress or overwhelm, to clarity, relaxation and peace. You can find out more at www.thetappingsolution.com.
Industry members speak out
Gianna Vallefuoco (giannavallefuoco.com), NTCA Regional Director and co-owner of NTCA Five-Star Contractor Vallefuoco Contractors is also a certified mindfulness teacher and speaker with a background in neurobiology. She’ll be presenting wellness sessions this month at Coverings (check coverings.com for details).
She recommended keeping 988 on speed dial in those times you have a need to talk with someone NOW about mental health struggles for yourself or someone else, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just a listening ear. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a service of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). It will put you in touch with caring counselors that can offer free, confidential support 24/7, 365 days a year. Call 988 from any phone or visit 988lifeline.org for more information or to connect with someone through a call, text, chat, with support for deaf/hard of hearing individuals Los servicios de text y chat ya están disponibles en Español.
In addition, visit www.samhsa.gov website for additional help and support for a range of situations, such as information about finding treatment near you, counseling for emotional distress related to a disaster and a national helpline for treatment referral and information.
NTCA member Becks Logan, Owner and Co-Founder of Sirens of Ceramics (sirensofceramics.com) in Ogden, Utah, worked in the mental health field for eight years before becoming a tilesetter. She is open on her social media posts about her mental health journey.
“Everyone deserves to have peace within themselves with all parts of themselves,” she said. “Nobody ‘doesn’t need’ support. We all deserve to heal and unpack our childhoods in our adulthood so we can be as fulfilled as possible.”
For guidance and information about finding a therapist or counselor, she recommended visiting: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/therapy/how-to-find-a-therapist.
In addition she noted a number of “low-barrier” options for seeking counseling aside from ones mentioned above such as BetterHelp, Cerebral, Talkspace, and Talkiatry platforms, which offer rapid access, are covered by insurance, and offer flat monthly rates without copays.
NTCA Member Mark Christensen, Owner of Tarkus Tile in Lehi, Utah, waged a battle with pills and heroin in the early 2000s (https://www.tileletter.com/beyond-business/) but rebuilt his life through the help of rehab and a network of friends.
“I can’t stress enough how important it’s been for me to have a friend group,” Christensen said. “Many friend groups actually. People that I communicate with daily. Usually it’s just some back and forth texts or a quick phone call…But enough that if I didn’t reach out every few days they would find it odd that they hadn’t heard from me and check in on me and vice versa. It’s so important to have people who you know you can talk to during good times or bad.”
Christensen also maintains balance by leaving work – and cell service – behind and spending a weekend a month in his beloved Utah desert with family and/or friends. “This has been absolutely life changing for my mental health.”
He also limits his time and presence on social media, stepping away from many of the tile groups and the inevitable comparison game that can develop there. “Comparison is the thief of joy,” he said. “In today’s world it’s hard to not compare our lives to those of others that we see online. It’s easy to get caught up in thinking that others have it better than me. Or that they’re making more money or getting better tile jobs or whatever… This trade is hard. Many are like me I’m sure and we strive for perfection and always fall short of it. This can be very mentally taxing and detrimental to self esteem if we aren’t careful. I try to just focus on my own work and my own self improvement and do my best to not compare my work and my life to that of others.”
In addition to that, Christensen strives to live in a constant state of gratitude. “When I’m grateful for my life and my friends and family, accomplishments and my many blessings, and even my trials and struggles, it is hard to feel sorry for myself. Gratitude is like the most powerful medicine for depression that I have found.”
Tile setter Megan Renk of Mosaix Tile in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, recommends a host of resources that she has been following on her own journey and intensive study of psychology, including the work of Dr. Maika Steinborn, Andrew Huberman, and Thais Gibson. Some recommended books are Rejection Proof by Jian Jang, the classic The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, the mystical The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
“To maintain life balance, lean into each emotion you feel, with as much passion as you would happiness,” said Renk. “Learn to understand your emotions, let them pass, and make rational decisions from the viewpoint of a settled mind.” She also encouraged keeping energy levels in check, eating right, getting sleep, making time to decompress while steering away from unhealthy food, substances, or distraction overload.
“A love of self must be cultivated in the form of self worth, which consists of self love and self efficacy,” she added. “And finally, find a life purpose. Something that drives you in a magical way, and adopts a stability standpoint within the future, to give you a constant star to follow on dark and dim nights.”
Lesley Goddin has been writing and journaling since her first diary at age 11. Her journey has taken her through a career in publishing and publicity, landing her the editor position of TileLetter and its special publications in 2006. Her goal is to educate, inspire, recognize and encourage those in the tile industry -- especially the tile and stone contractor.
