Event to raise funds, awareness for mental health advocacy

By: 
Press Staff Writer

         In an effort to bring awareness to the ongoing need for mental health advocacy, 2Tuff2Talk, Northwest Ohio’s only Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness program dedicated to NWO Union Construction Workers, announced its inaugural public fundraiser event – Clash of the Contractors, which will be held in Rossford Saturday, Aug. 20 from 11a.m.-7 p.m.
        Clash of the Contractors is a family-friendly event focused on raising funds and awareness for suicide prevention and mental health advocacy. Teams comprised of union construction workers will be competing against one another in multiple tournaments including Wiffle ball, volleyball, cornhole and tug of war.
        Funds raised from the Clash of the Contractors through sponsorships, team signups, raffles and food/beverage sales will support 2Tuff2Talk’s programing, which funds boots-on-the-ground initiatives including mentorship, advocacy, education and guidance for contractors to include mental health as a significant part of their training and orientations.
        The event will also feature local bands Madison Ave and East River Drive rocking out for the cause, as well as a kids’ area for family fun, food trucks, beer tent, and 50/50 raffles.
        OSHA Area Director Todd Jensen will be in attendance, sitting in the dunk tank at the fundraiser.
        “In addition to support from industry partners, contractors and unions, we’re grateful for our presenting sponsors Harness Health Partners Powered by Mercy Health, and Moriarty Machinery & Supply Co. as well as our supporting sponsors Laibe and Foundation Steel,” said Cassie Tinta, 2Tuff2Talk marketing chair.
        Suicide prevention
        According to Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP), there are approximately 5,500 suicides among construction workers per year. At 15 suicides a day, this is 3.5 times greater than the national average.
        “The union construction trades are strong and resilient in Northwest Ohio, and due to the high numbers of suicides in our area, we have united in our efforts to raise awareness and educate our industry,” said Babette Burnett.
        Burnett, director of health and safety for the Spieker Company, a general contractor in Northwood, said a personal experience with suicide in the workplace inspired her to pursue creating 2Tuff2Talk with fellow safety colleagues.          “In 2019, 1,061 construction workers died from work-related injuries, while about 5,500 workers died of suicide,” she said. “In 2016, I had a female carpenter apprentice commit suicide. I watched how it affected my crews in the field, the cost and finance of it and the emotional part of it.”
        The experience led her to help form the 2Tuff2Talk program through the Associated General Contractors of Northwest Ohio Inc. “It’s finally getting off the ground after being delayed by the pandemic,” she said.

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