The Wounded Workforce announced the completion of the first Train the Trainer: Building Resilience Construction Mental Health Certification® cohort through its Center for Construction Mental Health.
The virtual certification program was created to help construction industry professionals lead mental health conversations and resilience training within their own organizations. Participants in the inaugural cohort included HR professionals, safety leaders and construction managers who are now certified to facilitate mental health training programs across their teams and job sites.
The program debuted as a pre-conference workshop during the Construction Mental Health and Wellbeing Summit earlier this year.
Industry Addresses Growing Mental Health Challenges
The program comes as the construction sector continues to confront one of the highest suicide rates among major industries.
Industry leaders say mental health education has historically received far less attention and funding than physical safety programs, despite growing awareness of the issue across the workforce.
The Train the Trainer initiative aims to change that dynamic by equipping internal leaders with the tools to identify and address mental health challenges within their organizations.
"When mental health training lives inside your organization, it becomes part of your culture — not a one-time event," said Stephanie Lemek. "Train the Trainer exists because we believe every construction organization deserves someone on their team who knows how to recognize when a colleague is struggling, how to start that conversation, and how to connect them to support."
By empowering internal facilitators rather than relying on external consultants, the program aims to build long-term awareness and support systems within companies.
Training Designed Specifically for Construction Culture
Unlike general workplace mental health courses, the Building Resilience Construction Mental Health Certification® was designed specifically for the realities of the construction industry.
The curriculum addresses challenges such as:
- High-pressure project schedules
- Job site safety risks and physical injuries
- Transient and seasonal workforces
- Substance use and chronic pain issues
- Cultural barriers that discourage workers from asking for help
The program also focuses on improving psychological safety on job sites, encouraging open discussions around mental health and stress in an industry often associated with a “tough it out” mentality.
Practical Tools for Jobsite Leaders
Participants in the training receive practical strategies to help them identify and respond to potential mental health challenges among coworkers.
Graduates of the program are trained to:
- Recognize behavioral signs that someone may be struggling
- Initiate supportive conversations without stigma
- Apply evidence-based mental health strategies
- Connect employees to professional resources
- Integrate mental health awareness into safety and performance programs
Those who complete the training are authorized to deliver the Building Resilience certification program within their own organizations, expanding the reach of mental health education across the construction workforce.
Participants Highlight Real-World Impact
Program participants say the training focuses on actionable solutions rather than just theoretical awareness.
"It was a very practical and meaningful session. The Building Resilience Construction Mental Health Certification focuses not just on awareness, but on action. It provided real-world tools to recognize when someone may be struggling, how to start the conversation, and how to respond in a supportive and safe way. What stood out most is how clearly it connects mental health to safety, performance, and culture in construction. It reinforced that mental health is part of the job, not separate from it, and gave practical strategies to help build resilience and better support the people we work with every day. Stephanie Lemek did an outstanding job presenting. She was engaging, knowledgeable, and brought both professionalism and authenticity to the conversation, which made the training impactful and easy to connect with."
— Mark Dyke
Next Cohort Scheduled for May
Following the completion of the inaugural class, the next Train the Trainer: Building Resilience cohort is scheduled for May 14–15 and will again be held virtually.
The program is designed for professionals working across the construction and built environment sectors, including HR leaders, safety directors, project managers, superintendents and workplace mental health advocates.
Organizers say enrollment is intentionally limited to maintain a collaborative learning environment and allow participants to engage deeply with the training material.
As the construction industry continues to emphasize worker wellbeing alongside traditional safety practices, programs like this are expected to play a growing role in supporting workforce resilience and improving jobsite culture.
Originally reported by THE WOUNDED WORKFORCE CENTER FOR CONSTRUCTION MENTAL HEALTH™ in Construction Dive.
