Editor’s Note:
This is part of Equipment World's in-depth series that explores the troubling state of mental health in the construction industry and what can be done about it.
Also in this series: Why the Industry's Suicide Rate So High?
After putting his life on the line for the country, Chaz Gilliam was suffering.
Between the events he witnessed during his military service and his return to civilian life, his post-traumatic stress disorder started manifesting itself.
“I went in because I knew something was wrong,” says Gilliam.
But his job at the local telecommunications company and Veterans Affairs left him with lackluster healthcare options to deal with the weight of the emotions he carried.
“I tried to get mental help, but you get like two sessions, which isn’t enough. It’s not something that’s really thought of and not something included within every healthcare package – somebody’s mental wellbeing.”
Now, Gilliam, who currently owns C&G Excavating in Michigan City, Indiana, sees a psychiatrist and psychologist and attends PTSD training. “After going through classes and the more I learn about it, the more I understand that some things and some behaviors aren’t just the way I am; it's related to trauma – and you have to have that awareness.”
