If you want to be a helper, an effective way
to achieve that is through proper training – for
some options, visit www.livingworks.net. Like
anything on the job site, having the right training
will help you be more confident and effective
and keep you and your team members
Septic Tanks, Cisterns • Steps, Blocks, Planters • Parking Curbs, Barriers
Custom Arch., Structural • Catch Basin, Sump, Dykes • Burial Vaults, Memorial
Electrical Boxes, Bases • Fence/Soundwalls • Retaining Wall Block
Storm & Sanitary • Manholes • Sandwich Panels • Precast Grade Beams
Serving
Saskatchewan
Since 1988
T: 306-931-9229
F: 306-931-4447
3320 Idylwyld Drive N
Saskatoon, SK
For more information, visit us online at
www.preconltd.ca
D.J. MILLER & SONS
CONST. LTD.
DWIGHT MILLER
Box 926, Langenburg SK S0A 2A0
MARC MILLER
djmillerandsons.com
djmiller@sasktel.net
MICHAEL MILLER
306.745.7608
EARTH MOVING - SITE DEVELOPMENT- OIL FIELD LEASE WORK - MINING INDUSTRY
A Family Built Business for over 50 Years | Building the Road for the Future
safe. In effect, your training will give you a
more robust and hands-on version of the steps
outlined below.
Recognizing the signs
What does it look like when someone is struggling
with thoughts of suicide? No two people
express their situation in quite the same way,
but almost everyone displays signs of some
kind. LivingWorks, one of the leading developers
of suicide prevention training, prefers to call
them “invitations.”
“That’s really what they are,” said Living-
Works’ Randy Thompson, who sits on the
Board of Trustees for the Construction Industry
Alliance for Suicide Prevention. “When people
act in this way, they’re inviting us to reach
out, check on them and help them.”
Some of the common “invitations” to look
for include talking about death or dying, saying
that they feel like a burden or see no way out
of their problems, giving away possessions, engaging
in risky behaviour and alcohol or drug
abuse. Changes in appearance, grooming or
sleep patterns and loss of interest in regular activities
can also indicate that someone is thinking
about suicide.
So if you’ve identified an employee or a coworker
who’s giving off these “invitations,”
what’s the next step?
Talking directly
to someone
“If you suspect that someone might be thinking
about suicide, it’s important to be direct,”
said Thompson. “Don’t beat around the bush
or use euphemisms. Use a statement that incorporates
what you’ve observed about them that’s
worrying, and then ask the question. For example,
if there’s an employee on your site who’s
talking about feeling like a burden to his family,
say something like, ‘You’re talking about
feeling like a burden and how it would be better
if you weren’t here. That really has me worried,
because it sounds like you’re talking about
killing yourself. So I have to ask you directly because
I care about you – are you thinking about
killing yourself?’”
Don’t worry about offending someone or
“putting the idea in their heads” – studies show
that’s not how it works.
“In the vast majority of cases, if someone
is thinking about suicide, they’ll be greatly relieved
that someone cared enough to reach out,
and they will be honest with you that that’s
what they’re thinking,” said Thompson. “And
MENTAL HEALTH
“Avoid phrases like ‘It’ll get better’
or ‘Everyone goes through
tough times’ – when someone
is thinking about suicide, those
statements feel empty.”
– Randy Thompson, LivingWorks
30 Think BIG | Quarter 2 2020 | saskheavy.ca
/www.livingworks.net
/www.preconltd.ca
/djmillerandsons.com
/saskheavy.ca
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