Former infantryman, now laborer and carpenter, Chris Rodgers is setting out on an amazing endeavor. He’s running 500 miles in full personal protective equipment (PPE) to promote awareness for mental health and suicide prevention. His challenge began on January 1. Its mission is to start a dialogue on the mental health issues that so many people experience in the construction field. Rodgers is on his way to running a half marathon every week for 36 weeks. He has given himself a completion date of September 10, which is Suicide Prevention Day.
Originally from Weston-super-Mare, Rodgers was motivated to make this challenge after experiencing his own mental health struggles. After being medically discharged from the army in 2018, he transitioned into the construction industry. During his time there, he became acutely aware of the suicide epidemic that was killing male industrial workers at an unprecedented rate. These experiences led to him to becoming an advocate, activist, and educator around the oftentimes taboo topic of mental health.
As I’ve spent my years in construction, I toured the nation. I saw innumerable solutions our industry was producing to every challenge. Rodgers said, “People struggle for various reasons and it could be from pay, from pressure or from distance.”
Rodgers is convinced that this kind of frank conversation can make a big difference to those struggling with mental health challenges. He emphasizes that “one conversation can save someone’s life and you never know when that is or who may need it.” This attitude was the driving force behind his focus to finish his 12 in 12 running challenge. It drives him to challenge others to have candid conversations about their mental health.
According to Rodgers, the campaign has already started to produce “refreshing” conversations about mental health in the construction community. By donning full construction PPE during his runs, he aims to highlight the struggles faced by workers in this field and demonstrate solidarity with those dealing with similar challenges.
Rodgers’ campaign is doing great work to help destigmatize mental health. Besides offering a unique stage for open conversations to occur, those conversations have the power to help save lives. He hopes that by sharing his journey, he can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage individuals to seek support when needed.
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