September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness, share resources and offer support.
Editor’s Note: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.
Mental health is a subject that too often flies under the radar. While one’s physical well-being is important, one’s mental health is just as significant. For alumna Barbara Brennan, mental health awareness has become a mission in her work.
Barbara has been in the safety field for more than 17 years. After joining a development construction firm, she quickly moved into an administrator role supporting the vice president of construction.
“I had somewhat of a background in compliance, so that was really where it started,” she said. “From there, I focused on learning everything I could, continuing my education while gaining hands-on experience in the field. It wasn’t some grand dream or carefully mapped-out career plan. I just discovered along the way that this is what I was meant to do.”
Barbara began her higher education journey at age 50 and earned associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in occupational safety and health at CSU. She is also a Knight Ambassador with CSU.
“The program at Columbia Southern University expanded how I think about safety and the role safety professionals play within organizations,” she said. “I learned that protecting workers requires not only strong technical knowledge, but also leadership, communication and an understanding of the human factors that influence safety outcomes. This has helped me advocate for initiatives that address both physical hazards and the mental health and well-being of the workforce.”
A Personal Loss
Barbara volunteers with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), New Jersey Chapter. This national network is dedicated to saving lives through prevention programs, education and support. She recently became a board member with the organization and serves as AFSP New Jersey’s education chair.
“I became involved with AFSP because of the loss of my brother, Kevin, to suicide in 2009,” said Barbara. “Initially, I was looking for a way to honor Kevin’s memory. What began as a personal journey quickly became a mission.”
Barbara’s volunteer work with the AFSP has also served her professional duties as well.
“Before I found AFSP, I was weaving conversations about substance misuse, mental health and suicide prevention into my construction safety trainings because these issues directly impacted the people I was trying to protect,” she said. “AFSP gave me the platform, education and support to deepen that work and reach even more people, allowing me to transform personal loss into a broader mission of saving lives.”
As a safety professional, Barbara has always believed that safety is about more than preventing physical injuries.
“For many years, my mission was helping people return home safely by preventing workplace injuries. After losing my brother, that mission expanded,” she explained. “Today, I believe true safety means protecting the whole person, not only physically, but psychologically as well. AFSP has allowed me to bring those two passions together. It has given me the opportunity to honor Kevin’s memory by helping others find hope, encouraging conversations that reduce stigma, and working toward a future where fewer families experience the pain of losing someone they love to suicide.”
A Leader in Safety
Barbara currently serves on the board of directors of the National Safety Council Northeast Chapter. In addition, she chairs the planning committees for both the Massachusetts Safety & Health Conference and the Maine Safety & Health Conference, where she participates as a speaker. She is also the past president and current secretary of the American Society of Safety Professionals, Maine Chapter, and is a member of Professional Women in Construction, New Jersey Chapter.
Additionally, Barbara is an OSHA-authorized trainer, Certified Safety Professional® (CSP®), Certified Instructional Trainer, mental health first aid instructor and grief coach.
“These organizations provide valuable opportunities to collaborate with other safety professionals, share best practices and support initiatives that strengthen worker safety and health across industries,” she said.
The Hard Hat Courage Initiative
Barbara serves as co-chair of the planning committee for the New Jersey Construction Hike for Hope, an initiative led by AFSP to reverse high suicide rates in the safety profession. She also represents New Jersey in the Hard Hat Courage program, which is another AFSP initiative that focuses on bringing suicide prevention awareness to the construction industry.
“One of the things I feel is most important to share is that the safety profession continues to evolve,” she said. “Today, protecting workers requires more than understanding regulations and physical hazards, it also requires recognizing the human factors that influence safety, including fatigue, stress and mental health.”
“Through my professional work and volunteer efforts, I have become passionate about bringing mental health awareness and suicide prevention into conversations within the safety and construction industries. My hope is that by continuing to speak openly about these issues, we can help create workplaces where people feel supported, valued and empowered to seek help when they need it.”
Marching Forward
Today, Barbara is the director of risk and safety with Traffic Plan, a woman-owned business that provides traffic control services and equipment to utility companies, municipalities and private contractors throughout the Mid-Atlantic. In addition to her role, she works tirelessly to spread the word about suicide prevention and mental health awareness, with the loss of her brother always at the center.
“Back then, if I had access to the resources we have today, I often wonder if his story might have been different, and that is what drives me,” she said. “I want to be there for someone else in the hope that they never have to experience this kind of pain. If sharing my journey helps even one person pursue a career in safety, recognize when someone may be struggling, or simply look out for the well-being of a coworker, then sharing it is worth it.”
Part of Barbara’s mission is to help people understand that it’s okay to talk about your feelings and ask for help.
“In construction, we’re taught to push forward, keep going, get the job done, don’t quit,” she said. “Yes, that makes for a strong worker, but it also makes it very difficult to ask for help. Hard Hat Courage is bringing to light and giving people the tools to be able to have those difficult conversations. By having these resources and tools, so many people are going to be helped and understand that it’s okay, it’s really okay to ask for help, and it’s really okay to ask someone if they’re okay.”
Disclaimer: These testimonials may not reflect the experience of all CSU students.
Multiple factors, including prior experience, geography, and degree field, affect career outcomes.
CSU does not guarantee a job, promotion, salary increase, eligibility for a position, or other career growth.
