Mental Health is Safety: Building a Culture that Puts People First
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From Silence to Support: Shifting the Industry Mindset
Mental health covers a broad spectrum often associated with mental illnesses, depression, or other serious issues. These topics can feel heavy – and its why many people shut down or avoid the conversation. But mental health isn’t just about crisis. It’s about how we handle everyday stress. Whether it’s related to work, money, family, or relationships, these are things all of us deal with.
Mental health and wellness are everyone’s responsibility because we all experience challenges – and so do our coworkers, friends, and family. When mental health is openly talked about, it sends a powerful message: you’re not alone. That connection can be the difference between silently struggling and getting the support needed.
To explore how these ideas translate to the jobsite, we sat down with Corporate Safety Director, Matthew Chasse, to talk about how mental health plays a vital role in TOCCI’s safety program – and what it looks like to build a culture where people feel seen, supported, and safe.
What does personal ownership look like in supporting mental health on site?
When it comes to supporting mental health initiatives onsite, personal ownership is important. Personal ownership means being aware of your emotions, thoughts, and how you ultimately respond to the world around you. It’s about self-awareness, and asking: “Why am I feeling this way? Why did I react like that?” When we’re able to make these connections, we have better control over how we react to things, how we treat people and how we feel.
Sometimes the answer is obvious. Other times, we need to take a step back and dig deeper. You might not “solve” anything right away, but that reflection gives you more control over your behavior and reactions.
On site, this can look like pausing before lashing out, checking in with yourself, and even recognizing when someone else might need a little patience. Self-awareness leads to better interactions, better teams, and safer jobsites.
How do we build a culture where it’s okay to speak up, be seen, and not be okay?
In construction, there’s still skepticism about whether companies genuinely care – or if it’s just for show. That’s why it’s not enough to say we care – we have to show it. It starts with the small things: checking in on someone, saying thank you, asking for their input. Those simple gestures build trust, show respect, and remind people that they matter.
For a long time, this industry sent a different message: get the job done, no matter what. Personal struggles were to be kept quiet. Workers were expected to tough it out, hold it in, and keep moving. That mindset still lingers – and we can’t pretend it doesn’t take a toll.
The statistics can’t be ignored: construction workers have the second highest suicide rate of any industry. That’s not just a number – it’s a warning. The pressure, the hours, the culture of silence – it all adds up.
But creating a culture of care doesn’t require a big budget. It starts with awareness. It starts with people looking out for one another. If someone seems off, ask them how they’re doing. You don’t need to be a therapist to ask – you just need to be human. That one question might be exactly what they need to hear.
How does TOCCI address mental health in our safety programs?
Mental health conversations show up in our toolbox talks, jobsite events, and our all-hands safety meetings. Early on, people were hesitant to engage. But now, more are opening up – sharing stories, asking questions, and listening.
That shift didn’t happen overnight. It took consistency and a genuine effort to show people it’s okay to talk about these things. We’re breaking through the old shell that said, “keep your head down and tough it out.”
We’re now seeing this momentum across the industry. It’s no longer a fringe topic – it’s becoming part of how the industry defines safety.
At TOCCI, every employee signs our Commitment to Safety – and the very first line reads: “Caring is the core of TOCCI’s commitment to safety.” That’s not just a statement, but the foundation of how we operate.
Mental health and wellbeing are still new conversations in the industry. But just like we’ve grown our safety practices over time, we’re evolving how we support the people behind our work. We’re continuing to build on what works because at the end of the day, our impact goes beyond the work itself. It’s about people, and it’s about lives.