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Cal Beyer discusses how new technology can harm the mental health of those working in construction , and what companies should do about it
His mission is saving lives – that is how Cal Beyer describes his job in human capital risk management and wellbeing consultancy . As an executive committee member for the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention , Cal has devoted the majority of his adult life to helping people with mental health issues .
After starting primarily with first responders , Cal shifted his career focus to the construction industry in 2016 after reading a Centers for Disease Control report that said construction workers had the second-highest rate of suicide by industry and occupation in the US . He has spent the following years helping construction workers self-regulate their emotions through techniques like deep breathing and understanding triggers that set off their emotions .
“ Think about the whole person who comes to work ,” Cal said . “ It ’ s not just mental health . It could be coping strategies , or maturity . It could be people away from home for the first time . It could be someone new to the industry . We just need to build a bridge so everyone can safely perform their work , and that is what this movement has been about : getting more people across the finish line .”
A representative of eSUB Construction Software – a management software made to meet the needs of commercial construction subcontractors – took the opportunity to interview Cal about his perspective as to why he thinks construction workers struggle with mental health issues more than people in other industries , why introducing new technology on the job can lead to more mental health issues and what you can do to decrease its impact on wellness .
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