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July 2026: Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

Differing cultural perspectives on mental health, barriers or limited access to care, historical trauma, and inequitable policies can all add invisible weight. Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is an important time for education and advocacy, and to reaffirm a commitment to ensuring that all construction workers are seen, heard, and understood. 

The Bricklayers' Member Assistance Program (MAP) is a place to talk to someone who grasps the pressures of the job and who can provide culturally responsive support and guidance. BAC MAP will help you get connected to the resources that work for you, no matter your background or story. We encourage all BAC members and their loved ones who are seeking mental health help to get in touch by calling 1-833-MAP-TALK, M-F, 8am-7pm ET. 

To learn more about Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, please visit the following links:

• NAMI
• MHA

If you or someone you know is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 911. You may also obtain immediate 24/7 help from the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling 988. 

This website is for general educational purposes and does not constitute legal or medical advice.

For Occupational Health and Safety Resources, please click here.

June 2026: Men's Health Month

Research consistently shows that men, on average, are less likely than women to seek preventive healthcare and are more likely than women to delay medical care. Given that over 90% of construction workers are male, the Bricklayers' Member Assistance Program (MAP) recognizes International Men's Health Month, and the importance of promoting men's health and reducing barriers to seeking physical and mental healthcare. Keep reading to learn more. 

Relevant Facts and Figures:

• Construction workers are more likely to engage in several behaviors that are considered high health risk (such as smoking, smokeless tobacco use, binge drinking, low leisure-time, physical activity, and inconsistent seatbelt use). 
• More than half of men do not get regular health screenings or engage in preventive care. 
• Men are more likely than women to drink excessively, and to have higher rates of alcohol related hospitalizations. 
• Men are more likely than women to use illicit drugs, and to have higher rates of illicit drug related hospitalizations and overdose deaths. 
• Men are almost four times more likely to die by suicide than women. 
• Men living with a mental health condition are less likely to have received mental health treatment than women living with a mental health condition. 
• Nearly 1 in 10 men experience some form of depression or anxiety, but less than half seek treatment. 
• Men have higher mortality and morbidity rates of coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. 
• Loneliness - a risk factor for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, anxiety, addiction, suicidality, and self-harm - appears to be more common in men than women. 

What You Can Do:

• Address stigma and treatment avoidance (studies show that males who avoid or underutilize health care services, including mental health and substance use treatment services, may do so because there is a false perception that such services undermine masculinity). 
• Recognize signs and symptoms by getting screened (for physical health conditions and behavioral health conditions). 
• Choose a primary care doctor if you do not already have one. 
• Engage in preventive care by getting regular check-ups. 
• Manage chronic pain with a medical professional. Discuss non-opioid pain management options to treat musculoskeletal injuries and disorders with your doctor. 
• Know that help is available. Call MAP (1-833-MAP-TALK) for mental health and substance use related health matters, as well as guidance for locating a primary care doctor or medical specialist to address physical health issues. 

Additional Information/Resources:

• Men's Health Month (NAMI)
• Men's Health (CDC)
• Men's Health (Canada)
• Men's Mental Health (ADAA)

If you or someone you know is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 911. You may also obtain immediate 24/7 help from the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling 988. 

This website is for general educational purposes and does not constitute legal or medical advice.

May 2026: Mental Health Awareness Month

May 18, 2026: 7pm ET: From the Field: Insights from a Jobsite Mental Health Trailer 
_{This event has already passed. Register for the BAC MAP's Mental Health Awareness Month webinar on May 18, 2026 at 7pm ET. Hear from a clinician who provides services right on the jobsite to better understand the wellbeing needs of construction workers, and to find encouragement in taking the next step in accessing support.} 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the BAC is here to support members who may need the following message more than ever: it's okay to not be okay.

Construction workers often feel pressure to appear - or be - ironclad. The Bricklayers' Member Assistance Program (MAP) knows this isn't possible 100% of the time. In fact, trying to become immune to mental health challenges often backfires, leading to shame and help-avoidance. This is where we usually see mental health challenges worsen rather than improve. This may also play a role in some of the concerning wellbeing trends that we see among construction workers, including elevated rates of suicide and overdose fatalities. 

When facing hardships, it's important to know that you have not failed, and you are not alone. BAC MAP is a resource that can confidentially help members and their loved ones address their mental health needs, allowing for opportunities to lead happier, more fulfilling, and peaceful lives. To connect with BAC MAP, please call 1-833-MAP-TALK, M-F 8am-7pm ET. 

In addition to connecting with BAC MAP, we encourage members to participate in Mental Health Awareness Month in other ways:

• Take a mental health screening.
• Share your story. If you are at a place where you are ready to share your story, doing so with trusted people can be a powerful way to promote healing - both for you and them. 
• End the stigma. Recognize that stigma and myths/false beliefs around mental health challenges can be extremely harmful. Commit to taking actions that will end stigma, self-shaming, and the shaming of others. 
• Increase knowledge. Learning about mental health challenges, mental wellbeing, what to do in a crisis, and of available resources are some of the most important actions you can take to make a difference. 
• Get involved. Whether you attend the BAC MAP's Mental Health Awareness Month webinar on May 18th at 7pm ET, participate in a community event, join your Local or ADC's on-the-ground efforts to support mental wellbeing, or seek out an alternative way to be connected with others who are championing this cause, engaging is a way to find hope and be a part of the solution. 

For additional information and resources, visit the links below:

• SAMHSA: Mental Health
• Mental Health and Wellness Canada
• NAMI
• Mental Health America
• Many Locals/ADCs are ramping up their efforts to support member mental health. Check to see what programs/resources may be offered locally. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 911. You may also obtain immediate 24/7 help from the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling 988. 

This website is for general educational purposes and does not constitute legal or medical advice.