Talk Is Tough: Kicking Off Mental Health Month in Mining & Trades

Talk Is Tough: Kicking Off Mental Health Month in Mining & Trades with guest Stephen Dummit, Co-Founder of Tradewinds Leadership

In the first episode of Ore-atory’s five-part Mental Health Awareness Month series, host Lindsey Schultz welcomes Stephen Dummit—an electrician-turned-leadership coach with a mission: to make mental health and psychological safety as non-negotiable as physical safety in the trades.

Stephen opens the episode by sharing a recent training he facilitated at the AGC National Convention, where he and his team at Tradewinds introduced a hands-on, field-tested approach to mental health. Rather than focus on theory or isolated online training modules, their method encourages practical communication tools that team members can use immediately- on the job, at home, and even with strangers at the gas station. “That’s how training sticks,” Stephen explains. “When it’s lived, not just learned.”

The conversation gets personal as Stephen recounts his early years managing crews, feeling isolated, and turning to alcohol after long days in the field. Nicknamed “Sad Story Stephen” by his crew, he realized something had to change. That turning point led him to coaching, books, and a deep dive into communication styles. He not only found better ways to lead his team, but also to reconnect with his purpose—and, ultimately, to help others find theirs.

Lindsey and Stephen also unpack the industry-wide stigma that makes conversations around mental health so difficult. Even with Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) in place, utilization rates remain shockingly low, averaging just 4.9% across industries, and often lower in the field. Stephen makes the case for tackling mental health before a crisis hits: “Isolation is the #1 cause of suicide,” he says. “And isolation is the opposite of communication.”

As the conversation turns to stats and solutions, the stakes become clear. Mining has the highest suicide rate of any U.S. industry—72 per 100,000 workers. Managers impact employees’ mental health as much as a spouse. And yet, most companies invest in office staff development while neglecting the crews who need it most.

The message is clear: real culture change doesn’t have to start with the C-suite. Anyone—field leader or crew member—can start creating safer, more connected teams with small, consistent actions and inclusive language. From the power of “and” over “but” to the ripple effects of handing out water bottles, Stephen offers practical ways to lead up, down, and sideways.

This episode lays the foundation for the entire Mental Health Month series and invites listeners to step into the work of building workplaces where people feel seen, safe, and supported.