NORTH DAKOTA ( KXNET ) — A construction supervisor’s call to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline sparked important conversations about mental health in the workplace by displaying leadership and compassion.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is partnered with FirstLink to answer 988 and 211 — the two numbers for resources.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and Jeremy Brown (the development director at FirstLink) shared the story of answering the call from a construction supervisor, which illustrates the impact of accessible mental health resources.

Brown said that when the supervisor identified changes in a crew member’s behavior, he reached out to 988 with concerns. The employee had been dealing with personal issues that were affecting his job performance and mental state — but the supervisor was unsure how to address it, so he sought guidance from 988 on approaching the situation.

“The supervisor told me about his employee’s struggles,” Brown recalled, “and expressed concern that the employee might be having suicidal thoughts. This was not a conversation he was accustomed to having, especially in a male-dominated industry like construction, where mental health topics can be stigmatized.”

Instead of a third-party intervention, the supervisor wanted to be coached on how to have a direct, yet empathetic conversation.

Brown helped role-play the conversation, provided strategies on how to address the situation, and offered a list of resources that could be shared during the conversation.

The immediate concern for the employee was addressed, and the supervisor realized the need to foster an open dialogue about mental health within the entire team.

Melissa Markegard, the HHS Suicide Prevention Administrator, highlights the more general implications of the story.

“This isn’t just about one call,” said Markegard. “It’s about the changing culture of how we address mental health in the workplace. This supervisor’s initiative is a perfect example of how leadership can make a difference. I’d like to encourage all employers to seek out the tools and knowledge to support their employees’ mental health to create a safer and more supportive environment for everyone.”

This story shows how important 988 is — not only in a crisis but also for providing support and education for anyone. It also serves as a call to action for others to take proactive steps in supporting their employees.

“I hope more supervisors and business owners in North Dakota are inspired to take similar steps,” Brown stated, “demonstrating that addressing mental health proactively can lead to positive changes, not just for individuals, but for entire workplace cultures.”

Along with 988, people can seek out resources and training from these four websites:

• HHS suicide prevention resources
• HHS suicide prevention trainings
• FirstLink resources
• FirstLink trainings

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