Eliminating the Stigma Around Mental Health and Addiction in the Pipe Trades
UA Pipe PALS
(Peer Allies for Life Success)
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Saving and Improving Lives
Our Mission
UA Pipe PALS (Peer Allies for Life Success) is the United Association’s initiative that promotes suicide awareness, prevention, and peer support within local unions across the United States and Canada.
This program serves as a comprehensive resource hub for mental health and addiction, providing UA members with access to critical support, best practices, and training designed specifically for construction and pipe trades.
The mission of UA Pipe PALS is to build a strong network of peer allies, equipping them with the tools and resources to accomplish two primary goals:
- Save the lives of those at risk of suicide.
- Improve the lives of those struggling with mental health or addiction issues.
What UA Pipe PALS Offers
Mental Health and Addiction Resources
A one-stop shop for crisis support, prevention resources, veteran-specific resources, downloadable materials, and substance use/addiction services.
Best Practices and Success Stories
Showcases how UA locals are leading the way in mental health support and stigma reduction.
Peer Support Training
Courses such as “Introduction to Peer Support Skills and Mental Health Literacy” and “Advanced Skills in Suicide Prevention Training” help UA members become confident, effective peer supporters.
VitalCog Workshops
Specialized training to recognize early warning signs of suicide in the workplace and promote proactive mental health conversations.
Advisory Committee
A dedicated team of UA leaders and industry experts guiding and promoting the program.
Pipe PALS Advisory Committee Members
The United Association appointed the following individuals to serve on the Pipe PALS Advisory Committee. This team is tasked with promoting the program, elevating awareness, and prioritizing the importance of mental health support in our union and on the job.
Omar Galindo
Pipe PALS Committee Chair
Ben Bradshaw
Local 100 Business Manager
Pipe PALS Committee Co-Chair
Matt Taylor
Pipe PALS Committee Coordinator
Jason Hebbert
Pipe PALS Committee Secretary
PJ Moss
Pipe PALS Committee Resource Coordinator
Tim Brink
MCAA CEO
Pipe PALS Advisory Committee Member
Pipe PALS Advisory Committee Member
MCAA Executive Director, Safety, Health, and Risk Management
Pipe PALS Advisory Committee Member
Alanna Marklund
UA Canada, Special Representative, Youth, Diversity, and Indigenous Relations
Pipe PALS Advisory Committee Member
Anthony Gallagher
Administrative Assistant to the General President
Pipe PALS Advisory Committee Member
Financial Secretary of Local 669
Pipe PALS Advisory Committee Member
Mike Hazard
Veterans in Piping Program Manager
Pipe PALS Advisory Committee Member
Jennifer Massey
UA Health, Safety, and Environmental Administrator
Pipe PALS Advisory Committee Member
Nicole Jeup
UA Veterans in Piping Program Administrator
Pipe PALS Advisory Committee Member
Addressing Mental Health and Suicide Concerns Within the Workplace
2-Hour VitalCog
Workshop
VitalCog proactively addresses the early warning signs of suicide in the workplace. Just as organizations have realized they can help reduce heart disease by encouraging exercise, they can also reduce suicide by promoting mental health and encouraging early identification and intervention.
This training will educate and equip participants with tools to address mental health and suicide concerns within the workplace. This two-hour training gives participants the skills and tools to appreciate the critical need for suicide prevention, while creating a forum for dialogue and critical thinking about workplace mental health challenges, and by promoting help-seeking and help-giving.
How to Host a VitalCog Workshop
If you are interested in hosting a 2-hour VitalCog workshop at your local, please do the following:
1. Fill out the VitalCog Request Form below at least 30 days before the requested training date.
2. After submitting a completed form, a Pipe PALS representative will contact the requestor to discuss promoting and scheduling the workshop.
3. When the workshop date is confirmed, but no later than two weeks before the training date, a VitalCog Confirmed Participants Roster must be completed and sent to [email protected].
VitalCog Request Form
WORKSHOP 71
8-Hour VitalCog
Train the Trainer Workshop
The prerequisite to take this course is that you must have completed a 2-hour Vital Cog course or course 2170.
In this eight-hour training, participants will acquire the skills, tools, and knowledge to facilitate VitalCog suicide prevention training within their own local union, training center, or on the jobsite. After completing the course, trainers are equipped to provide participants with the tools to identify individuals at risk and respond effectively to a crisis. This training is designed for those who have an interest, commitment, and capacity to provide 1–2-hour suicide prevention training in the construction industry. The training includes the opportunity to learn more about the statistics and facts on suicide, along with the impact on individuals, families, communities, and workplaces. Participants will have the opportunity to practice facilitation and learn from other trainers on best practices for delivering the program.
How to Host a VitalCog Train the Trainer Workshop
If you are interested in hosting an 8-hour VitalCog Train the Trainer Workshop at your local, fill out the VitalCog Request Form below.
Please submit the VitalCog Request Form at least 30 days prior to the requested training date. Once the completed VitalCog Request Form is received, a representative from Pipe PALS will contact the requester to discuss promoting and scheduling your course. Once your course date is confirmed and no later than two weeks prior to the VitalCog train the trainer date the VitalCog Train the Trainer Confirmed Participants Roster will need to be completed and sent to [email protected] and Tyler Massengale at [email protected].
VitalCog Train the Trainer Workshop Request Form
We encourage all members to join in this critical endeavor. We can build a stronger, healthier, and more resilient community. Let us support and lift up one another and pave the way toward a brighter future.