Austin – September 15, 2026 -- SHIFT, a health and performance platform built for industrial and frontline workforces, has launched a Clinical & Performance Advisory Council and named clinical psychologist Dr. Brandi Luedtke, PsyD, HSPP, as its Founding Advisor.
Construction suicide rates far exceed workplace fatality figures
Approximately 5,200 construction workers aged 16 to 64 died by suicide in 2022, more than five times the number who died from fatal workplace injuries, according to data analyzed by CPWR–The Center for Construction Research and Training. CDC figures for 2021 show men in construction had a suicide rate of 56.0 per 100,000, compared with 32.0 per 100,000 among men in the overall working population.
Dr. Luedtke brings nearly two decades of PTSD-focused clinical work
Dr. Luedtke specializes in trauma exposure, post-traumatic stress disorder and evidence-based mental health interventions, with experience spanning clinical care, research, leadership and clinician training in PTSD treatment. Her background includes developing couples-based interventions for trauma-related disorders and collaborations with organizations serving military and veteran communities.
Dr. Luedtke said her focus is on extending evidence-based mental health and performance tools beyond clinical settings into the daily routines of frontline workers, arguing that supporting this population requires understanding their specific work environment and culture.
Council will guide content across stress, sleep, nutrition and leadership
As Founding Advisor, Dr. Luedtke will provide strategic guidance as SHIFT develops programming in mental health, stress management, resilience and recovery. The broader Clinical & Performance Advisory Council is set to bring together experts across mental health and trauma, nervous-system regulation, sleep and recovery, physical health, nutrition and leadership, advising SHIFT on content development and emerging workforce-health needs.
SHIFT founder Chris LeVeck said the appointment is a step toward providing frontline workers with practical tools and credible expertise suited to the demands of their jobs. Additional council members are expected to be announced in the coming months.