Episode 29: Real Talk from the Jobsite: Ben Jump on Prevention, Loss, and Looking Out for Each Other

In this episode of Above and Below, host Sonya Bohmann and co-host Zulq Malik sit down with Ben Jump, a safety technician, former tradesman, and comedian from New York, for an honest conversation about mental health, jobsite culture, and the real-world challenges facing construction workers today.   Drawing from his experience as a carpenter, welder, and precaster, Ben shares what life on the road can feel like, including loneliness, pressure, and the coping habits many workers develop while away from home. He also opens up about losing both a friend and a colleague to suicide and how those experiences strengthened his commitment to prevention and peer support.   The conversation explores everything from camaraderie and workplace recognition to postvention planning and the importance of simply checking in on one another. Along the way, Ben reminds us that laughter, connection, and community can be powerful tools in supporting mental health.   This episode is a candid reminder that prevention starts with conversation and that no one should have to carry their struggles alone.