BB133: Construction Has A Suicide Problem with Vince Hafeli of Ajax Paving

Blacktop Banter

Vince Hafeli is President of Ajax Paving Industries in Florida. Several years ago, Hafeli considered ending his life. The unrelenting pressure to do more, under budget, on time without any incidents or safety problems, added stress to an already physical demanding job and became too much for him to handle.

Construction is a male dominated industry, attracting people who are tough minded and not willing to talk about their struggles openly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most people who commit suicide are men. The construction business has one of the highest rates of suicide of any industry with 10-15 people taking their lives every day, often on job sites. Hafeli is on a mission to change that.

Speaking about his own struggles with suicide allowed Hafeli to breathe. And it's given others the opportunity to share how they're feeling. He visits new job sites every week to talk with workers, share resources and discuss mental health care and suicide prevention with business owners.

If you are struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts, specialists are available to talk with you and to listen. Please call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. Your life matters and help is available.

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This Podcast discusses Asphalt Sealcoating, Hot-Rubberized Crack Sealing, Patching, Base Information, Recycled Asphalt Millings, Hot-Mix Asphalt, Line Striping, and Paving for residential and commercial customers. We also discuss how to stay motivated as an entrepreneur and how to deal with the bumps of owning your own business along the way.

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