ABOUT THE COALITION
The Saint Louis Building Trades Wellness Coalition exists to strengthen the health, safety, and future of the people who build our region.
We are a coalition of tradespeople and partners united in a common goal: to break the stigma surrounding mental health, substance misuse, and suicide crisis.
We’re committed to ensuring resources are available, making treatment accessible, and deploying peer support whenever and wherever it’s needed.
Our Why
Statistics from CPWR show that just under 1,000 workers in construction die in workplace accidents annually whereas 5,000 die by suicide and 15,000 die by overdose in that same year. It is a crisis in the trades.
Workers in the trades face unique occupational stressors, including physically demanding work, job instability, and cultural stigma around help-seeking. These challenges can create barriers to accessing mental health care, substance misuse treatment, and crisis support. While resources exist, they are often fragmented, underutilized, or not trusted by workers.
Our Mission
We are a group of tradespeople united in a common goal: to break the stigma surrounding mental health, substance misuse, and suicide crisis.
Our mission is to remove the barriers that prevent workers, signatory partners, and family members from seeking help. We are committed to ensuring resources are available and ready to deploy peer support to our members whenever and wherever possible.
Our Vision
We envision a building trades community where:
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every member is treated with dignity and respect
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support is easy to access — without shame or stigma
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recovery and mental wellness are protected and prioritized
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no worker feels alone during their hardest moments
Our Values
Stronger Together
We believe real change happens when unions, contractors, and community partners unite.
Trust & Confidentiality
People won’t seek help unless they feel safe. We protect privacy and create pathways that work.
Respect & Dignity
Every person deserves to be treated with compassion — especially in moments of struggle.
Recovery is Possible
Support works. Treatment works. Peer connection works.
Action Over Awareness Alone
We don’t just talk about the problem — we build practical, jobsite-relevant solutions.
Our Team
The coalition is supported by tradespeople and leaders committed to wellness.
David Scott
Executive Director & Co-Founder
James Pursell, CPS, CHW-C, LAP
Director of Peer Development & Co-Founder
John Gaal, CPS, CHW-C, LAP-C
Chief Learning Officer & Co-Founder
Mindi Allison
Director of Internal Operations
Ashley Norton
Director of Program Development & Services
Contact Us
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CAMPAIGN NAME
EXPERIENCED RESULTS
DRIVEN LEADERSHIP
2035