Registration is now open for the 5th Annual Construction Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference, taking place February 23-26, 2026, at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront in Portland, Oregon!
This year’s theme - “Moving from Surviving to Thriving: Actionable Solutions for Suicide, Addiction, and Mental Health” - brings together construction leaders, mental health advocates, and industry professionals who are shaping a stronger, safer, and more connected workforce.
Don’t wait — early bird pricing is available through December 3, 2025. Register at this LINK.
Conference Overview
Hosted by United Suicide Survivors International, the conference aims to:
· Connect the dots among wellbeing, health and safety priorities, and mental health
· Share lessons learned in building industry capacity and scaling implementation
· Strengthen strategic alliances across the movement
Five Content Tracks:
· Culture of Care and Psychological Safety
· Suicide Prevention – Hope Through Action
· Substance Use Disorders, Addictive Behaviors, Overdose Prevention, and Recovery Support
· Innovations in Mental Health Promotion
· Physical and Environmental Root Causes for Mental Health Challenges
Pre-Conference Retreat & Training Sessions
Monday, February 23, 2026 | Eye of the Survivor – A Storytelling Retreat for People Impacted by Mental Health, Addiction, and Suicide
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM | Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront
Facilitators: Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas and Sarah W. Gaer, MA
Hosted by United Suicide Survivors International, the Eye of the Survivor Workshop & Retreat helps participants turn pain into purpose by engaging in the healing power of storytelling. Attendees will explore how to use their personal experiences to foster hope, inspire others, and drive systems change in suicide prevention.
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 | Pre-Conference Training Sessions
Enhance your learning with these full- and half-day add-on sessions, each designed to offer practical tools and expert insight:
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Total Worker Health Solutions for Construction
Explore how the Total Worker Health® approach integrates safety, wellbeing, and mental health to build resilient workplaces.
Led by Dr. Katia Costa Black, Viktoria Schulz, Liz Hill, and Justin Molocznik.
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM | VitalCog Train-the-Trainer Certification Course
Become a certified VitalCog in Construction trainer and gain the tools to open dialogue, reduce stigma, and promote suicide prevention in your organization.
Led by Alex Yannacone, Director of Education & Community Programs at the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center.
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM | Building Resilience
Earn your Wounded Workforce® Building Resilience Construction Mental Health Certification™ and learn to deliver holistic, construction-specific mental health training.
Led by Stephanie Lemeck
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM | Peer Motivational Support Skills for Substance Use Recovery and Lifestyle Change
Develop motivational interviewing skills to foster recovery-oriented support and enhance peer connection.
Led by Eduardo Vega, MA.
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM | Psychological First Aid: Building Trauma-Resilient Organizations
Learn how to respond to crises with compassion and confidence using the Psychological First Aid (PFA) framework.
Led by Sarah W. Gaer, MA.
12:30 PM – 4:30 PM | H2H: How to Transform the Future of Construction by Focusing on Your People
Discover how to strengthen connection, inclusion, and performance by addressing workforce culture and mental health.
Led by Brent Darnell, Brent Darnell International.
Conference Highlights
· Keynotes by Josh Rizzo, Dr. Colleen Saringer & Scott Satory, Allan Kehler, and Allan Abney
· Toolbox Talk Competition
· Awards & Networking Dinner
· Panels, breakout sessions, and interactive learning opportunities
· Join peers and professionals from across the country for four days of learning, inspiration, and connection as we work together to build a thriving culture of care in construction.
Visit our site for more details: constructionmentalhealth.org
We look forward to seeing you in Portland!