Latest news with #LinesforLife
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Construction companies band together for mental health as industry faces high suicide rates
PORTLAND, Ore. () – Eight different local construction companies, normally competitors, are banding together to address the industry's high suicide rates. The CDC that the construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates of any industry in the United States. Industry leaders said changing that starts with shifting how people view mental health. Portland Bangers unveil new mascot Saucy T. Sausage 'We will win the challenge of mental health when we reduce the stigma, when we make reaching out for help okay,' Lines for Life CEO Dwight Holton said. The leaders of Hoffman Construction, Andersen Construction, Fortis Construction, Skanska USA Building, Lease Cruther Lewis, Turner Construction, Mortenson and R&H Construction announced Wednesday they are partnering with Lines for Life and organizing a peer group in the Construction Suicide Prevention Partnership. Each company is committing to making mental health just as much of a priority as physical safety on site through a more focused approach. One of those strategies is through QPR training— or Question, Persuade, Refer. 'We're teaching supervisors, foremen and coworkers to have those conversations like, 'Hey, how can I help? What are you thinking about hurting yourself today,' Robert Dahl with Lease Crutcher Lewis said. 'And being open about that because you're not going to suggestion that you're going to open a door, that you can probably save their life.' Dave Garske, the former VP of Hoffman Construction, said the industry has a 'leave your problems at the door' mentality. But he said when people are struggling, that mentality has prevented them from supporting each other. Report estimates $756M decline in Oregon resources 'That's what we're trying to stop is the first thing is we need to do is we need to openly talk about it and talk about how this is a problem, talk about how we need to make a change, but let people know that we have people that have gone through this that are there to help,' he said. The group has also launched the Construction Care Line— a free crisis and support line tailored to construction workers. 'The people that are answering the line are not just 988 workers, but they've had a little more training and they actually have some scripts that have been studied and– and trained them on how to speak like a construction worker,' Kristina Ewing with Andresen Construction said. 'So it gives them a little more insight on what life on a construction site is like. The specific problems they may be facing on a job site, and also helps talk to them as if it were a colleague.' That line is up and running and is available 24 hours a day at (833) 444 – 6020. The companies said this announcement is just a start, and they are hoping to grow the group and make these changes system-wide so they can shift the way business is done. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Legendary Jimi Hendrix, ecology workers awarded with Washington's most prestigious medals
PORTLAND, Ore. () — The legendary Jimi Hendrix, along with a group of employees serving Washington's ecology department, has been granted one of the state's most prestigious awards for civilians. The Seattle-born musician was posthumously awarded with the medal of merit during a ceremony in Olympia on Tuesday morning. The medal honors individuals who have dedicated a 'lifetime of service' to Washingtonians through areas like the arts and advocacy. Oregon corporate kicker may go to school maintenance Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, who nominated the late guitarist for the award, said he lived more in his 27 years than most people could aspire to. In 1961, Hendrix opted to join the U.S. Army instead of serving jail time after being charged with driving a stolen vehicle. Santos stated that his time in the military actually kick-started his career in the arts. 'It was his passion for music that helped him through his military experience, and he was eventually honorably discharged when his platoon sergeant noted that Jimmy really had no interest whatsoever in the army,' Santos said. 'The nearest place for him to move was Tennessee, where he then began exploring music full-time, and the rest, as they say, is history.' The representative noted that Hendrix was a self-taught artist. She dubbed him as one of the most influential figures from the 20th century, and from Washington's 37th legislative district. Portland's Lines for Life brings mental health support to Black barbershops and salons Also at the ceremony, four employees with the Washington State Department of Ecology — as Alex Hernandez, Lisa Stingley, David Thompson and Jon Tollstrup, were presented with the medal of valor. This medal recognizes non-first-responders who risk their lives or personal safety in an attempt to save someone else's life. According to Lt. Gov. Denny Heck, the latest awardees responded to a critical incident in early October of last year. Heck said the four-person ecology crew pulled a woman from her burning vehicle, after she suffered from a stroke and lost control of the wheel near Cle Ellum. Although the woman later died due to complications from her injuries, officials said the ecology workers helped her family say goodbye to her. Injured Seattle man dies on Mt. Bachelor after getting trapped in snow 'I just have to observe that we're living through some fairly tumultuous times and a bit of chaos in the world,' Heck said. 'It's the actions of people like that, frankly, that I think give us a lot of hope by demonstrating the courage that they did.' The new awardees will join the ranks of previous recipients including Tacoma class artist Dale Chihuly, biologist and Noel Prize winner Linda Buck and former Washington Rep. Henry 'Scoop' Jackson. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
