Construction Industry gears up for Movember challenge

Key Takeaways:

• The Movember Construction Challenge focuses on raising awareness about men’s mental health and other medical issues, ( particularly prostate and testicular cancer).
• The initiative highlights progress in addressing mental health in construction, breaking down the “tough guy” mentality and encouraging open discussions.
• This year’s industry program is bigger and better than ever. Companies across the construction sector are invited to participate in a 30-day challenge to raise funds and awareness. The winning team will earn a special trophy.

The Whole Story:

The construction sector is once again uniting for the Movember Construction Challenge, a month-long initiative to raise awareness and funds for men’s mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer, testicular cancer and other issues facing men.

But this year it is bigger and better than ever. Companies from across the sector—ranging from suppliers and trades to builders of highways and skyscrapers—will compete for fundraising glory while championing critical health issues that impact men in construction. The victorious team won’t only earn bragging rights. They will get to take home the Construction Challenge Trophy.

Addressing Critical Health Issues

The construction industry faces unique challenges when it comes to mental health. Workers often endure long hours, physically demanding tasks, and high-pressure environments. The industry’s prevailing “tough guy” mentality further complicates conversations about mental well-being.

The statistics are alarming: men account for 75% of all suicides in Canada, and construction workers are five times more likely to die by suicide than from job-related injuries. Additionally, 83% of workers report experiencing moderate to severe mental health issues. The Movember Construction Challenge seeks to address these pressing issues and foster a safer, more supportive environment for workers.

“Bringing Movember into the workplace has had a huge impact on our team,” said Rob Reid from Ledcor. “We’ve always emphasized physical safety, but we’ve evolved to consider mental health as part of that equation.”

Progress is being made. Reid noted that after two of his grandfathers died from prostate cancer, early detection saved his father’s life. And Movember discussions at Ledcor prompted an employee to get checked. He was diagnosed, treated and has since returned to work.

“This reminded me that every one of the conversations we have about our health could save someone’s life,” said Reid.

Kevin Hatch from Twin Lions Contracting added, “Mental health often gets overlooked in construction. We believe it’s crucial to create a healthy working environment where everyone feels safe to speak up and seek help when needed.”

A Challenge with Purpose

The Movember Construction Challenge invites companies to participate in 30 days of fundraising and awareness-building activities focused on men’s health. Teams will compete through fun events and personal challenges, with the top fundraising team winning the coveted Construction Challenge Trophy, a symbol of leadership in men’s health advocacy.

“By getting involved in the Construction Challenge, construction professionals are building more than just projects; they’re building communities where health and well-being are prioritized,” said Mitch Hermansen, director of development at Movember.

How to Get Involved

Companies are encouraged to register at movember.com and join the challenge by:

– Creating a company team.

– Joining the Construction Challenge or contacting Tyler Watkins at tyler.watkins@movember.com.

– Recruiting team members from across sites and locations, including Mo Sisters.

– Planning events such as a shave-down or a wrap-up party.

– Starting conversations about men’s health and encouraging open dialogue.

Participants can contribute to Movember in various ways, from growing a moustache to taking part in the Move Challenge, which involves running or walking 60 km to honour the 60 men lost to suicide every hour. Others can host events or create unique challenges to raise funds and awareness for men’s health.

“Movember is a fun, engaging campaign that resonates with this industry and tackles issues that directly impact its workforce,” said Hermansen. “The challenge allows us to work alongside leaders in the construction industry to drive meaningful change in workplaces and communities.”

Making a difference

Movember’s impact is significant, with over 50,000 Canadians participating in 2023, raising $20 million for men’s health. Since 2013, the organization has invested over $110 million into prostate cancer research and continues to fund mental health programs such as Movember Conversations, an online tool to support people in helping their peers with mental health issues. The Canadian construction industry is doing its part. Last year, the Construction Challenge raised $411,758. Ledcor was the top team, raising more than $109,000.

“We know that working in construction comes with stress factors that can have hidden psychological impacts,” said Edward Pyle, Vice President of the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association. “Mental health concerns are as critical as physical hazards in our industry. We encourage the construction community to use this Movember challenge as an opportunity to have conversations with their teams and share resources to ensure everyone gets the support they need.”

Learn more and get involved here.