Oct 21, 2026 –
Hello Construction Supporters and Sponsors, Happy October!
As one of our busiest seasons at Breaking the Silence New Mexico (BTSNM) comes to an end, I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has supported our work in bringing mental health awareness and suicide prevention education to New Mexico’s construction industry. September marked another epic and successful 3rd Annual Construction Suicide Prevention Cornhole Tournament! Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and supporters, we received $78,900 in sponsorships and raised $64,082 after event expenses!
To every company that sponsored, donated, volunteered, contributed prizes, participated, or supported this event, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your generosity and willingness to be part of this effort have meant so much to our organization.
I also want to give a special thank you to Eric Brower and Shannon Priddy for their dedication and commitment over the past three years. The countless hours they have spent planning, organizing, building, and bringing people together have played a tremendous role in the tournament’s success. We are truly grateful for everything they have contributed. Congratulations to the 2026 winners! 1st place Wagner, 2nd EPX, and 3rd place Jaynes.
Over the past three years, this tournament has become much more than a fundraiser. What started as an effort to bring construction companies together and challenge the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide has opened the door to important conversations, meaningful relationships, and a better understanding of the challenges construction workers face when it comes to mental health and suicide prevention.
One of the most valuable parts of this work has been the opportunity to hear directly from the people working within the industry. Thank you to MSCI, San Bar, EPX, B&D, Intel, and Jaynes for welcoming us into your workplaces over the last three years to provide suicide prevention education and gather feedback from your teams.
Through our survey, 73 construction professionals shared their experiences with mental health and the challenges of seeking support. When asked whether mental health struggles affect their work ethic, 49% said yes and another 27% said sometimes. While 69% reported knowing where to access mental health resources, 22% said they were uncomfortable reaching out for help, and another 30% felt only somewhat comfortable doing so.
Workers also shared the challenges they face, including heavy workloads, demanding deadlines, financial pressures, time away from family, and the expectations placed on them to keep pushing forward. When it came to seeking help, many identified stigma, pride, fear of judgment, limited time, and concerns about losing income as barriers.
What stood out to us most was hearing that some workers know they need help but feel they cannot afford to step away from the job to receive it. That is something we cannot overlook. It reminds us that raising awareness is only part of the work. We also need to understand what is preventing people from getting the support they need.
With that in mind, after three successful years, we have decided to pause the Construction Suicide Prevention Cornhole Tournament in 2027 and shift our focus toward giving back to the industry that has given so much to us.
This tournament has helped us accomplish what we initially set out to do: bring companies together, raise awareness, challenge stigma, and start conversations about mental health and suicide prevention. Now, we want to take what we have learned and put it into action.
Because of the generosity and financial support we have received from the construction industry over the past three years, we are now in a position to take this time to reinvest directly into the construction industry. The funds raised have given us the opportunity to shift our focus from fundraising to developing and providing meaningful mental health education, resources, and practical tools for the workers and companies who have supported us. This is our opportunity to give back to an industry that has given so much to our organization.
In 2027, our focus will be on developing and expanding our Mind on the Job Mental Health Toolbox Talks. These will be short, practical conversations that can be incorporated into jobsites, safety meetings, and crew discussions. Topics will include stress, burnout, substance use, suicide prevention, recognizing warning signs, supporting coworkers, and knowing where to turn for help.
Just as important, these Toolbox Talks will give us the opportunity to continue listening to workers, gathering feedback, and identifying what additional resources are needed. We want to better understand the gaps in services, the barriers to accessing care, and how we can work alongside the industry to develop meaningful solutions.
We believe mental health should be part of the same conversations we have about workplace safety. Looking out for the person working beside you should include their wellbeing also and not just their physical safety. We would love to continue working with your companies and teams. If you are interested in us coming to your organization and providing our 30-minute Talking Mental Health and Suicide Prevention presentations and/or would like to add your company to our Mental Health Toolbox Talks interest list, please reach out to me directly at ysidra@breakingthesilencenm.org or (575) 403-5416 .
As we move into this new direction, I want you to know how grateful we are for the support you have shown Breaking the Silence New Mexico. You have welcomed us into your workplaces, shared your experiences, and been willing to have conversations that are not always easy. Because of you, we have been able to build something that goes far beyond a successful tournament.
Thank you for believing in our mission and for helping us bring greater awareness to mental health and suicide prevention within the construction industry. We look forward to continuing our partnerships, building on these conversations, and providing practical resources and tools to support the industry’s hard working people.
With sincere gratitude,
Ysidra Koch, M.A, LMHC Executive Director
