AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom. Read our AI Policy. A Fresno concrete business that’s going the extra mile to prioritize the mental health of its workers hopes it can spur change in the arduous construction industry. Karina Pano co-owns Panos Concrete with her mom and dad. Their team of seven provides industrial, commercial, and residential concrete services throughout the Central Valley and Bay Area. Although the business had been running for over 30 years, it wasn’t until 2022 — when Pano got involved — that they began prioritizing mental health. “I knew that whatever we did in the construction business, it had to have a social mission,” Pano said. “The lack of resources and awareness among Latino construction workers is a big reason why we do this work.” Pano earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Fresno State, where she also served as a graduate research assistant focused on Latino mental health. Her work explored language barriers and gaps in mental health access in Fresno, aiming to identify challenges faced by the Latino community. Pano said prioritizing mental health in the construction industry is crucial because the work can be stressful, especially with the lack of job stability. “There are seasons when there’s plenty of work, and others when there’s none,” she said. “A lot of habits are formed to help fight that stress, so substance abuse is also a concern.” She added that the current social and political climate around immigration is taking a serious toll on undocumented individuals — including many in the construction workforce. “You have people who don’t want to go to work because they’re afraid of getting in the company truck because they think they can get pulled over,” she said. “It’s a reality that can happen. A lot of construction workers are really stressed out and have a lot of anxiety.” Another issue, Pano said, is that many construction workers are actively looking for more work to make ends meet. “I get at least five calls a week from people looking for jobs and really following up,” she said. “The market is shaky right now, and that’s having a big impact on construction workers.” To help address the stress that comes with working in the industry, Pano created a resource document for her staff — and for the broader Central Valley construction community — listing Spanish terms for mental health conditions (such as depression and anxiety), symptoms, and available local support services. “As a business owner, people don’t always feel comfortable sharing with you — or even their family — mental health or substance abuse issues, so it was important for me to spread awareness and create this resource,” Pano said. Late last year, Pano began developing a mental health app that integrates physical movement and relaxation techniques. The interactive app, which she hopes to release later this year, will feature guided exercises, yoga and mental health therapists. It’s being developed in collaboration with a kinesiology student from Fresno State. “If you’re a construction worker, it’s important to know how to relax the body after you’re done working, so the app will focus on that,” she said. Pano also organized a wellness event on June 7, in partnership with the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce and Confia. The event focused on promoting mental health and wellness within the construction industry and featured licensed marriage and family therapists, free community resources, and wellness sessions led by Spanish-speaking therapists. Confia gave a presentation on entrepreneurship. “The overall goal was to not only highlight mental health, but also encourage family time and offer resources for those interested in starting their own business,” Pano said. Looking ahead, Pano said that in addition to growing her family’s concrete business, she hopes to develop a credible platform —through an app or website — where resources specifically tailored to Latino, Spanish-speaking construction workers in the Central Valley can be shared. Some of the topics she hopes to feature on the platform include career advancement in the construction industry, intergenerational trauma, and social work. “I know it’s going to take time to build out these resources and start seeing a real impact,” she said. “But right now, I’m really focused on understanding how everything happening around immigration is affecting people.” Try 1 month for $1