Encore Electric, MTech Mechanical and Saunders Construction Focused on Mental Health – H.O.P.E Certification
The H.O.P.E. Certification, which stands for “Helping Our People Elevate Through Tough Times,” focuses on “empowering everyday workers to become champions of organizational change and take on tough topics related to mental health, addictive behaviors and suicide prevention.”
The 12-month training was focused on empowering workers to become champions of organizational change and takes on topics related to mental health, addictive behaviors and suicide prevention. Encore Electric, Saunders, and MTech were awarded Platinum, Gold and Silver levels respectively. They are the first three construction-focused organizations in the country to be selected for participation and to complete the program.
“Saunders Construction is proud to be part of the H.O.P.E. Certification program, collaborating with other organizations to address the mental health needs of Coloradoans. Our participation in this program is a crucial component of our safety management initiative. Ultimately, we aim to prioritize our team members' mental well-being as much as their physical safety,” said Brad Marsh, Vice President of Safety & People Services and H.O.P.E. certification team member.
According to the CDC, construction has one of the highest suicide rates of any industry in the U.S. Trade workers in construction are more likely than most workers to have long and irregular hours, work in the elements and face pressure with project deadlines. These stressors may lead to various mental health issues, such as substance misuse, smoking, binge drinking, and lack of downtime.
“Our organization recognizes the mental health challenges faced by those working in our industry across all trades. Losing a key team member to suicide started our journey surrounding mental health leading us to the H.O.P.E program. We are committed to creating a supportive environment and implementing comprehensive benefits to ensure the well-being of our team," said John Falzone, COO of MTech Mechanical and H.O.P.E. certification team member.
These three organizations hope to see more openness in talking about mental health and ensuring that suicide prevention is widely known and practiced within the construction industry. Each organization will leverage the framework learned through the H.O.P.E. Certification throughout their organizations with ongoing mental health efforts.
“In the last year and a half, all of us – our teammates, our field leadership teams, our executive leadership team – have made the commitment to address mental health in the construction industry head-on,” said Andy Gordon, President of Encore Electric. “If one of our teammates is experiencing a mental health issue, we can help each other through it. I call all of us teammates because we are a team – and on a team, we don’t leave anyone behind.”
If your organization is interested in being a part of the H.O.P.E. Certification program, visit www.hopecertification.com. A new cohort will kick off in Fort Collins in August 2024.
Encore Electric Founded in 2003, Encore Electric, Inc. was established to serve clients in the Rocky Mountain West to address complex and technical projects for developers and top consumer brands with electrical construction, technology solutions and maintenance services. Recognized for safety, design and quality by industry organizations and customers, Encore credits the talent and work ethic of its more than 1,000 team members. Encore Electric is a privately held, employee-owned company based in Lakewood, Colorado. For more information, visit www.encoreelectric.com
Saunders Construction Saunders serves the commercial building industry as a full-service general contractor, design-builder and construction manager. A leader in the Colorado construction industry since its inception in 1972, Saunders’ experience includes a wide range of project types. Saunders is one of the region’s largest general contractors and is the recipient of more than 100 industry awards for its construction excellence, employee achievements and community contributions. In addition, Saunders is a member of the Citadel Group – an alliance of seven regional construction-related companies with operations in 19 cities. For additional information, please visit www.saundersinc.com.
MTech Mechanical MTech Mechanical has provided mechanical design, build and maintenance services to commercial and industrial clients across Colorado since 2002. MTech’s in-house engineers and dedication to enduring client relationships enable them to provide turn-key solutions for projects of any size. Its 550 team members operate across the state from four offices in Westminster, Eagle, Colorado Springs and Loveland. With MTech, you can expect superior craftsmanship and unparalleled service—every time. Learn more at https://www.mtechg.com/
