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After surviving childhood trauma, business failures and the psychological toll of firefighting, Shaun Carlyon confronts his years-long battle with addiction to rebuild his life — and help others do the same.
Follow the harrowing yet hopeful journey of Shaun Carlyon as he battles childhood trauma, the physical and mental tolls of firefighting, and a life-threatening addiction to rebuild his life and launch a mission to help other tradespeople find their voice.
This program honors member companies that have demonstrated strong safety practices and innovative approaches to achieving high safety and health standards.
The new initiative with The Worker Institute at Cornell and New York Building Foundation represents a unified, multi-trade effort to de-stigmatize mental health issues and prioritize worker wellbeing.
Steve Smith, editor, PHC News magazine, and Nicole Meyer, digital strategy manager and editor, RUGGED Mind and Body magazine, will discuss RUGGED and talk to other industry professionals about their personal and professional journeys and the importance of mental health and wellness in the trades.
Practical steps include normalizing mental health conversations, training supervisors, providing access to resources and integrating mental health into safety programs to support workers before a crisis occurs.
March 2, 2026
Long, irregular hours; seasonal employment with intermittent layoffs; frequent travel with time away from family; overnight and holiday shutdowns; and unrealistic deadline demands