NYC Construction Workers Get Emotional First Aid Boost

Union-based peer support program aims to destigmatize mental health and reduce suicide in the construction industry

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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A new peer support program co-created by Cornell University's ILR School's Worker Institute and the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York is training union members to provide emotional first aid and mental health support to their fellow construction workers on job sites. The program aims to address the high rates of suicide and drug overdoses in the construction industry by leveraging relationships within the unions.

Why it matters

The construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates of any industry in the country, second only to mining. Construction workers also die of drug overdoses at a greater rate than workers in any other industry. This program represents a cultural shift in addressing the mental health challenges faced by construction workers, who often feel pressure to hide their struggles due to the industry's stigma against showing weakness.

The details

The Building Trades Peer Support Network includes a two-hour training called "It's Not Weak to Speak" that teaches union members how to be on-site peer supporters. These peer supporters learn to listen to troubled coworkers, assess the risk of their mental health, and refer them to appropriate support. The program is being rolled out across New York City's construction unions, with a goal of training 1,000 union members - 1% of the Building and Construction Trades Council's membership - by spring 2026.

  • In 2024, the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York began creating the peer assistance program.
  • The Worker Institute is now conducting a four-month "train-the-trainer" pilot, where member assistance program directors learn to teach the curricula to union members.

The players

Chris Scattone

A former ironworker who is now the member assistance program director at the Ornamental and Architectural Ironworkers Union Local 580. Scattone is one of 20 union-based instructors in the peer support program after previously struggling with homelessness, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts.

Arianna Schindle

The director of training and curriculum design at the Worker Institute and a licensed therapist who helped create the peer support program's curriculum.

Jeff Grabelsky

A senior extension associate at the Worker Institute who collaborated with union member assistance program directors to develop the comprehensive peer support program.

Gary LaBarbera

The president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York and the New York State Building and Construction Trades Council, who partnered with Cornell to create the program.

Robert McCleary

A shop steward at the Laborers Union, Local 66, in Suffolk County, Long Island, who is a trainee in the peer supporter program after previously struggling with financial problems and alcohol abuse.

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What they’re saying

“Somehow I ended up in the middle of the floor, and I remember being in a fetal position, and it was the first time I ever cried for help in my whole life. I remember looking at him and saying, 'I don't want to die, and I need help,'”

— Chris Scattone (Mirage News)

“What Cornell is doing is a form of action. It's not another slogan, it's not another poster, it's not another help line to call. It's an in-person action and I respect it, because it's saying it's OK to ask for help, and that's what they're providing.”

— Chris Scattone, Member Assistance Program Director, Ornamental and Architectural Ironworkers Union Local 580 (Mirage News)

“It's not only launching a training program. It's actually launching an entire system of care and emergency support and response to end suicide in the construction industry in New York. The more people that are talking about it, the more effective the program will be.”

— Arianna Schindle, Director of Training and Curriculum Design, Worker Institute (Mirage News)

“I don't believe we could have really created the program and the curriculum without the assistance of Cornell. They did an outstanding job in creating the whole program, because it is a system of care and their expertise in that area was invaluable. I can't even put a price on that.”

— Gary LaBarbera, President, Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York (Mirage News)

“You have to be a tough guy - can't let anybody know you're letting your guard down. To bundle it up and have someone tell you 'Shut up and go back to work' - it's not the right thing to do.”

— Robert McCleary, Shop Steward, Laborers Union, Local 66 (Mirage News)

What’s next

The Worker Institute is now conducting a four-month "train-the-trainer" pilot, where member assistance program directors learn to teach the curricula to union members. The goal is to train 1,000 union members - 1% of the Building and Construction Trades Council's membership - by spring 2026.

The takeaway

This program represents a significant cultural shift in the construction industry, moving away from the stigma against mental health struggles and towards a system of peer-based emotional first aid and support. By leveraging the trust and camaraderie within construction unions, the program aims to destigmatize asking for help and reduce the alarmingly high rates of suicide and drug overdoses among construction workers.