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6,000 construction deaths by suicide each year.
21 Veteran deaths by suicide each day.
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What are we doing about it?
Kwest Group is an award-winning civil construction and environmental services company providing proven engineering expertise and excellence to a broad roster of clients in distinct markets across the U.S. and the Caribbean.
Spark Storytellers partnered with Kwest Group in 2021 to create an integrated HR campaign to address mental health awareness within their organization as a part of their team’s EAP and employee wellness program.
In 2024, they began their next venture, to bring that same awareness to veteran-specific mental health concerns in the next campaign, Under The Hard Hat: Veteran’s Edition.
Landon’s Story
Every day, 22 Veterans lose their lives to suicide—but Landon, a National Guard Veteran, found the strength to fight back. After losing three loved ones in just five months, Landon faced an unspoken battle with his mental health.
In this video, Landon breaks his silence to share his journey and inspire others to do the same. Our newest Under the Hard Hat video is a powerful reminder: mental health struggles are real, but so is the courage to overcome them. Let’s honor the resilience of those who serve—in uniform and life—by listening, supporting, and starting the conversation.
Andy’s Story
On Veterans Day, we salute all who have served and will continue to serve our country. Today, we're honored to release the next episode of Under the Hard Hat: Veterans Edition. Meet Andy, a former U.S. Army Cavalry Sergeant, who shares his 20-year journey in service to our nation. From basic training to his experience on 9/11 overseas, raising a family through four tours in Iraq, and the challenging transition from military to civilian life, one motto from his grandfather, a WWII veteran, has guided him: 'Suffering has meaning.'
Mike’s Story
Meet Mike Lutes—a man who has braved the storm of alcoholism and emerged stronger. In our final episode, Mike shares his candid journey of struggling with alcohol, the tumultuous relationship with his father, and the series of events that led him to sobriety. It's not just a story of recovery; it's also a story of love and support. Barb, Mike's wife, has been a pillar of strength in his life. Her encouragement was pivotal in Mike's decision to join our Kwest family, where he has now been an integral part for over 16 years.
Corey’s Story
Corey, a proud United States Army veteran, opens up about his three challenging deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He reflects on the unwavering values that guided him through the toughest times. His wife, Shelby, offers a heartfelt perspective on the resilience required to be the spouse of a service member and the strength it takes to raise a family during such demanding times.
"Under The Hard Hat is a award winning mental health awareness integrated campaign that highlights our employees' journey to mental wellness and the challenges they have personally overcome. This campaign aims to spread awareness in the construction industry and beyond to dissolve the stigma about mental health through authentic expression, openness, and vulnerability.
Our goal was to make our team members look like vulnerable badasses."
- Kathryn Coulson, Human Resources Director | Kwest Group
10 Stories
>250K Organic Reach
>155K Video Views
>8K Shares
Immeasurable human impact.
The metrics are great, but the immeasurable impact has been felt within Kwest’s culture, in the industry, and beyond. The power of bravery and vulnerability of sharing these stories has helped make people feel that they are not alone and helped to dissolve the stigma of mental health in the construction industry and beyond.
The How
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Spark Storytellers developed visually appealing branding elements for "Under the Hard Hat" and designed an employee story submission form. The video production team at Spark Storytellers, led by Joey Viola, reached out to all individuals who submitted their stories and gathered their narratives. Through collaboration between Kwest Group, and Spark Storytellers, storyboards were created, and a plan was established for producing three documentary-style shorts. A high level of consideration was given to ensuring the comfort and ease of the Kwest team members throughout the production process.
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Production dates for the shorts were scheduled for 2022. Spark Storytellers then executed the filming of in-studio interviews and captured supplementary footage, including interactions with participants and their families.
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The footage was then meticulously gathered by Spark Storytellers, who began the process of crafting the story's narrative. Singer-songwriter Joey Viola was commissioned to produce a personalized score, including original compositions tailored to each individual story.
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During the production phase, Spark Storytellers designed and distributed "It's Time to Talk" tagline T-shirts for all Kwest employees, as well as curated thank-you kits for each participant. The premiere of "Under The Hard Hat" was held at the annual All Hands company-wide training, attended by over 400 individuals. The three produced shorts were subsequently launched through Kwest Group's various social media platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, generating both internal and external exposure for the organization and its industry.
Derick’s Story
Derick Adkins shares how he and his hometown of Elkhorn City have a lot in common when it comes to overcoming adversity.
Adam’s Story
After a near fatal ATV accident, Adam shares his journey on the road to recovery and overcoming mental health roadblocks along the way.
John’s Story
Kwest employee, John, shares his story about his relationship with his father, a WWII veteran, his struggles with Depression and Anxiety, and how his experience has led him to be a better father.
Joel’s Story
Joel Ayers shares his journey on the road to recovery and finding the light from darkness