Fighting a Silent Epidemic: Gary LaBarbera on the NYC Building Trades’ Peer Support Network

In the construction industry, the most dangerous threat isn’t always a falling object or a site accident—it’s the silent crisis of mental health. In this powerful episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we sit down with Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York and the New York State Building and Construction Trades Council. Timed with Mental Health Awareness Month, LaBarbera discusses the launch of a first-of-its-kind, vertically integrated peer support network. Developed in partnership with Cornell University, this program is designed to confront a stark reality: while 1,000 workers die annually from job-site injuries, over 5,000 are lost to suicide. What We Discuss: The 5:1 Crisis: Why death by suicide has become a genuine epidemic in the trades and the unique stressors—from physical pain to "stoic" culture—that drive the risk. The Cornell Framework: How a curriculum designed by labor educators and clinicians is training union members to identify and respond to crises in real-time. Vertical Integration: Why this program is different—allowing a peer supporter from any trade to assist any worker on a job site, regardless of their union affiliation. Industry Solidarity: How the program secured funding from the New York Building Congress Foundation and the pharmaceutical industry to ensure no cost to the workers. "It’s Not Weak to Speak": The human stories behind the initiative, including the tradesman who saved a life on-site by simply being present. "No one ever died by suicide because someone asked if they were okay. People die because no one asked." Resources & Links: NYC Building Trades: nycbuildingtrades.org Get Help Now: If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. More AWF: Subscribe for more stories from the front lines of the labor movement at awfpodcast.com.