Carpentry students at the Chateauguay Valley Career Education Centre (CVCEC) in Ormstown took some time away from the shop on April 21 for a workshop led by graduate Yvette Rambour, a self-described advocate for mental health and women in the carpentry industry.
“If you look around the room, one in five of you are at great risk,” she said, citing statistics that suggest construction workers are at a higher risk for suicide and mental health issues. “When we talk about it, we can deal with it head on and we can break down the taboo,” she added, while acknowledging the subject was not easy.
Construction workers manage long, physical work hours that are often seasonal, frequently changing job sites, and layoffs, which can lead to added pressure. Rambour pointed out the tough guy culture and exposure to traumatic job site accidents can also impact workers’ psychological state.
The students broke into groups and worked together to address some of these issues, while Rambour encouraged participants to ask for help if they need it.
“A big part of Yvette coming in is not to scare them, but to prepare them, because she has some stories,” said Jane Fairhurst, a counsellor in vocational and academic training at CVCEC. “It is really important for everyone to understand and to be aware of some of the challenges that lie ahead,” she continued.
Fairhurst’s comments were echoed by carpentry teacher Jake Morrisey. “We don’t talk about mental health in any of the competencies except during orientation,” he pointed out. “It is something we provide a lot of support for at the school, but it is not front and centre in the program.”
The workshops were part of a broader initiative dubbed the Headspace Hustle between CVCEC and the Huntingdon Adult Education and Community Centre (HAECC). Now in its third year, the event included workshops led by community partners on April 23 with students in the landscaping, horticulture, health, assistance and nursing, and academic programs.
“Three years ago, we surveyed our students, and the results were pretty positive, except that they were all anxious about leaving these four walls and the support network that might not be there for them,” explained centre director Kara Woods. “So, we bring our partners from the community in to meet our students before they leave us.”
The Headspace Hustle initiative is funded through the Montérégie West Community Network.