Dedham, Massachusetts – MindWise Innovations, a Riverside community care service that provides behavioral health programs and suicide education, today announced the launch of a major research project on the mental health needs of men in the fishing, construction and mining industries. The social impact initiative is supported by a $380,000 donation from the men’s grooming company Harryin expanding its partnership with MindWise.
A new and innovative research program will identify and address the needs of men working in industries where employees experience high and growing rates of suicide, substance use disorders, and mental health problems. Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the US. Suicide in construction is four times higher than the average level of the republic. Mining has the highest rate of alcohol consumption of all industries.
“Cultural pressures in these largely male-dominated fields, along with stigma and isolation, prevent many men from seeking help,” said Vic DiGravio, president and CEO of Riverside Community Care. “This work allows MindWise to hear stories directly from men in these communities so we can better understand their experiences, develop practices that promote both physical and mental safety, and identify ways to improve the mental health interventions that work for men at the highest risk of suicide.”
Harry’s, a men’s personal care brand that aims to expand access to mental health resources for guys, has partnered with MindWise Innovations since 2020, reaching 300,000 men through online mental health screenings and tailored resources to date.
“In talking to our customer community and nonprofit partners, we’ve learned that there is a huge gap between experiencing a mental health condition and receiving effective care,” said Maggie Hureau, Global Head of Social Services at Harry’s. “That’s why we’re excited to partner with MindWise Innovations on this first-of-its-kind research project. Together, we can shed light on the overlooked mental health realities facing men in high-risk industries while identifying real-world research-based applications.”
The current project will begin in early 2025 with a series of focus groups and individual interviews involving members of the fishing industry, followed by the construction and mining industries. MindWise works with construction leaders, mining and industry associations and the Fisheries Partnership Support Service to conduct its research.
“It’s important that we gather first-hand data and hear men’s voices to better understand their experiences with trauma, stress, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, and sources of resilience,” said Lisa Desai, Psy.D., Director of Workplace Suicide Prevention at MindWise. “Focus groups can provide invaluable information and help guide effective interventions and resources as each of these areas faces stereotypes, stigma, and barriers to care.”
MindWise will reach thousands of men through these proactive efforts with an ongoing goal of education and early intervention.
About MindWise Innovations
With a mission to improve behavioral health, MindWise Innovations provides evidence-based mental health and suicide education programs that help the public prevent and recover from suicide, traumatic events and crises. We teach students, faculty and staff how to recognize the signs of suicide and depression. We help communities after traumatic events. And we help high-risk industries create safer, more prepared workplaces. Headquartered in Dedham, Massachusetts, MindWise is a service of Community Care Riverside, a nonprofit leader in behavioral health and human services.
About Harry
We created Harry’s because shopping for shaving accessories was a frustrating experience and the products themselves were overpriced and overdesigned. We saw an opportunity to create a brand that encourages guys to rethink their routine, and after shaving, began to address this issue in other categories of men’s grooming, including body and hair. At Harry’s, we aim to always put our customers first, which means being accessible, but wherever they want to shop – whether it’s Harrys.com or one of our retail partners – and supporting organizations that support men’s mental health care. We built Harry as a brand for guys who want to make their own way. At the heart of our mission is the belief in creating things that people love the most. For more information on Harry, please visit www.harrys.com.
