Powerful New Videos Personalize Mental Health Issues in Construction
As part of its Member Mental Health and Wellness Initiative, NAHB has been partnered with Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas to conduct a pilot program with the North Carolina Home Builders Association called “Blueprint for Worker Well-Being.”
The goal of the pilot program, supported by a grant from the Job-Site Safety Institute, is to develop a strategic plan for mental health awareness promotion and suicide prevention that can be replicated by other associations within the NAHB Federation.
A key component of that program involves storytelling. According to Dr. Spencer-Thomas, storytelling is our most powerful tool to reduce mental health stigma, which is arguably the biggest barrier in any construction mental health initiative.
“Getting to know people who have ‘lived experience’ with depression, anxiety, addiction and suicidal thoughts does more to undo stigma than all other methods,” Spencer-Thomas notes.
NAHB has published two videos of home building professionals telling their personal stories of the impact mental health issues have had on their lives and careers. Brandon Bryant, owner of Red Tree Builders in Asheville, N.C. and 2023 President of the North Carolina HBA, and Gary Hill, a home builder in North Carolina, bravely sat down and told their stories. Watch the videos here.
Bryant also recently appeared on a podcast produced by Builders Mutual that discussed these issues. Hill will appear on a panel discussing his experience with storytelling at the Construction Working Minds Summit in Kansas City, March 28-29, which NAHB is sponsoring.
At the 2023 IBS Leadership Council Meeting, NAHB Chairman Alicia Huey held a panel discussion with Bryant and Hill to discuss the importance of storytelling. Watch the video below.
The more we work to normalize discussions about mental health and wellbeing in residential construction, the more people will seek help for themselves and others when they identify potential issues.
Latest from NAHBNow
Sep 23, 2025
HUD Cuts All Multifamily Mortgage Insurance Premiums to 25 Basis PointsThe Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced that effective Oct. 1, it is reducing the FHA multifamily mortgage insurance premiums for all multifamily programs to 25 basis points.
Sep 22, 2025
What Do You Predict for the Housing Industry in 2026?What will 2026 bring for your business? Share your insights and predictions for the coming year by completing Pro Builder’s 2026 Housing Forecast Survey by Oct. 8.
Latest Economic News
Sep 23, 2025
Beyond the Official Unemployment Rate: A Deep Dive into U.S. UnemploymentIn August, the official, or standardly referenced, unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.3%, up from 4.2% in July. This marks the highest level in nearly four years, though it remains historically low.
Sep 22, 2025
Single-Family Homes Are Built Faster in 2024Building a new single-family home took less time in 2024 compared to the previous two years. On average, it now takes 9.1 months from start to finish.
Sep 19, 2025
State-Level Employment Situation: August 2025The latest government state employment report paints a mixed picture of the job market. While a few states saw modest employment gains, most areas showed little to no progress. The pace of hiring appears to be slowing, raising concerns about the strength of the recovery.