For the second year in a row, Pinkard Construction hosted a cornhole tournament for its employees last Friday.
While there was plenty of fun and games to be had, not to mention a dessert food truck, the day was also about acknowledging a serious topic: mental health.
Capping off Construction Suicide Prevention Week—which Safety Manager Dave Ruddy spoke about with CBS News earlier in the week—the day’s pre-tournament festivities included a talk by Duke Rumley, executive director of Sober AF Entertainment (S.A.F.E.), a non-profit that provides resources and creates sober spaces at live events to combat the idea that you can’t have fun without drugs and alcohol.
Rumley’s talk, which also included a demonstration of the life-saving anti-opioid spray NARCAN, was about identifying what addiction looks like, and how to help somebody who’s struggling with it. Explaining the connection between substance abuse and mental health, he said:
“One of the core issues with addiction is that you are prey to misery and depression. When you get defeated, and you feel like there is no way out, a lot of people choose suicide. We're here today to tell people that there are lots of different resources that Pinkard offers, from Youturn Health to having a company culture that’s willing to talk about it, there’s a safe place to come and get help.”
After a brief Q&A with Rumley, Dave Ruddy got on the mic to remind everyone to talk to each other, get to know each other, and check in with each other. “We’re a family here,” he said. “We’ve got to watch each other’s backs.”
And with that, the epic sandbag showdown commenced on the cornhole field.
For more conversations on mental health and suicide prevention, check out our recent series for Men’s Mental Health Month, featuring fascinating Q&As with Dave, HR Director Jeff Kessler, and former EMT Bryce Heitsmith.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, you can call 988, the Crisis Lifeline.
