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President's Message - April 2022

Hello ASCE Dallas Branch Members!

Earth month is a celebration dedicated to environmental education, impact, and appreciation.  Every modern Civil Engineer takes these concerns into account as we work, usually under the term sustainability and resiliency. One thing we don't often consider is sustainability and resiliency as it relates to is positive mental health, which I will discuss for the remaining message. CW // Suicide

To commemorate his birthday this month, I am dedicating this message to a close friend I lost to suicide in 2011. I remember trying to reach him several times that summer to share the news that we were expecting our first child. He never responded. I learned a few months later because he asked his family to not say anything, that he told his family he was returning to college and had sent them his cherished personal effects and disposed of the rest so they wouldn't need to sort through them.

Many stigmatize the struggles with mental health people endure. This stigma exacerbates the problems they face and can originate from society, employers, the media, and even their own friends and family. Someone may even experience internalized stigma, where you come to believe the negative messages or stereotypes about yourself. Encouraging conversations about mental health and knowledge sharing can reduce this stigma and lead to long term reductions in suicides.

One million people die by suicide every year, and 1 in 4 experience a mental health issue. Just like many of you, I have friends and family who have served in the military where mental health can suffer more than other careers because of the realities of that job. The active-duty Army released a report that their service members suffered more suicides in 2021 than any other year since the Sept. 11 attacks. The rate of suicide deaths among active-duty service members rose to 36.18 per hundred thousand soldiers, which is its highest level since the Great Depression.

My employer along with mental health professionals have created a free resource for anyone to use called One Million Lives <www.oml.world> which recognizes the number of people lost each year. The goal is to equip people with a tool to understand and improve their mental health, creating ripple effects as we encourage sharing it with friends, family and colleagues. The resources can be accessed through either the website or a phone app. There are several ways to use the site.

There is a full check-in mental health survey that takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete. This is recommended to identify some larger mental health triggers that could affect your wellbeing that you can monitor. Once complete, it will help users assess their current state of mind and provide suggestions for growth.

There is a quick check-in that takes under a minute. These questions will help you monitor your overall mental health and see trends which are available for you to view. The app will offer a few generalized approaches that can help.

There are also listings for free confidential crisis lines for immediate support. Moreover, there is specific mental help resources and advice for topics like Psychological Distress, Sleep, Resilience, Social Support, Social Media, Perfectionism, and Coping Strategies that are all available and are worth reading even if you do not have any specific problem areas.

Knowledge about mental health strategies can better prepare you for more challenging times and to better communicate concern and help to colleagues, friends, and loved ones.

Warm regards,

Ed Penton, PE

Dallas Branch President

One Million Lives is not intended to be a substitute for professional care. If you are struggling or suspect you are suffering from any mental health or other medical conditions, please seek immediate help from your doctor, local health service or from one of the organizations listed below. These services can also be used by friends and family seeking advice and assistance on how to support someone who is struggling.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, or if you are concerned for your safety, or the safety of others, please seek immediate assistance by calling the emergency services number in your country, or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.