AGC of Utah Hosts Mental Health Summit to Strengthen Safety Culture Statewide
On September 11, industry leaders, safety professionals, and mental health advocates gathered for the AGC of Utah Mental Health Summit, a full day of practical strategies to strengthen mental well being in the construction industry. The summit focused on a simple but powerful message: mental health is safety and protecting it is a responsibility we share across every company, crew, and jobsite.
From keynote speakers to hands on training, every session equipped attendees with tools to build stronger, safer, and more connected teams.
Mental Health as a Safety Standard — Scott Martin
Scott Martin opened the summit by reframing mental health as a core safety issue, not an optional program. He urged leaders to treat mental readiness like PPE by normalizing brief check ins, offering open door time, and modeling vulnerability. Trust grows when leaders show up consistently and follow through.
County Support for Companies — Salt Lake County CARE Team
The Salt Lake County Health Department CARE program shared how companies can plug into county wide mental health and harm reduction services. Their team provides onsite outreach, referrals, and training support to make help easy to access early, long before a crisis emerges.
Naloxone Training Saves Lives
A hands on block of training covered naloxone administration to reverse opioid overdoses, an increasingly important topic in the construction industry. Participants learned simple steps to respond in an emergency and how to build this life saving tool into safety programs onsite.
Resilience Through Connection — Craig Weston S4K Connects
Craig Weston highlighted the link between human connection and resilience. Isolation intensifies risk while connection reduces it. He encouraged companies to build strong crew culture with small, repeatable habits such as routine check ins, peer support, and pairing new workers with mentors.
Postvention Preparedness — Brook Anderson NAMI Utah
Brook Anderson addressed how companies can respond safely and compassionately after a suicide loss. She stressed the importance of structured communication, verified information, and ongoing check ins to prevent further harm and support grieving crews.
Talk Saves Lives — Scott Martin
Scott Martin returned to introduce practical suicide prevention tools including warning signs, safety planning, and simple language for starting difficult conversations. His message was clear. Courage and consistent follow up can save lives.
Postvention Preparedness — Brook Anderson NAMI Utah
Brook Anderson addressed how companies can respond safely and compassionately after a suicide loss. She stressed the importance of structured communication, verified information, and ongoing check ins to prevent further harm and support grieving crews.
Mental Health Through Gratitude — Heidi McNulty
Heidi McNulty closed the summit by showing how short daily practices of gratitude can improve team morale, communication, and psychological safety. These small habits create stronger crews who speak up more and watch out for each other.
Mental Health Resources for Utahs Construction Industry
The summit made one thing clear. No company has to address mental health alone. AGC of Utah is committed to supporting the construction workforce by connecting companies and employees with practical tools and real help.
Explore support resources at our Mental Health Resource Hub.
Thank You to Our Industry Partners
We thank every presenter, trainer, sponsor, and attendee who made the 2024 AGC of Utah Mental Health Summit a meaningful step forward. Together we are building a culture where safety includes mental health, because every worker deserves to go home safe in body and mind.