The Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) is hosting 12-step, recovery-based Zoom meetings on Wednesday evenings at 8 p.m. Eastern time; 7 p.m. Central time; 6 p.m. Mountain time and 5 p.m. Pacific time. Sessions are designed for union members, and SMOHIT prioritizes privacy and confidentiality above all else. Registration is required to receive the meeting link.

These recurring meetings are open to all SMART members and their families who have or believe they may have an alcohol, substance abuse or other behavioral addiction problem — all are welcome. The only requirement for participation is a desire to be free of active addiction.

When signing up, you’ll be asked for your union membership number solely for verification purposes, to ensure a secure environment for all participants. (If you are a relative of a SMART member who would like to register, please use their SMART member number.) Your email address will be used exclusively to send the meeting link every month, making access secure, stress-free and convenient for you.

The discussions and interactions within the 12-step recovery meetings are held in strict confidence — what is shared there, stays there. Join SMOHIT and your fellow SMART members in this journey toward wellness, where you can feel secure, respected, and embraced as you share, connect and heal with fellow members.

September was Suicide Prevention Month. The October 2021 episode of Talking SMART focused on suicide prevention, substance abuse disorder, addiction and all the resources and support available to our members through the SMART Member Assistance Program, or SMART MAP.

Chris Carlough

Our featured guest, SMART Director of Education Chris Carlough, is a man who wears many hats in our union. In addition to preparing new generations of union leaders for the tasks they have ahead of them when they start their careers, he also runs SMART MAP.  

“When I hear that we have people that need help,” said Carlough, “I think back to when I needed help and the call was received. And I got the help that I needed. And I believe it’s my duty to go and do the same thing for our members and the families that are out there struggling.”

At the end of this episode, listen for the open mic segment with SMART General President Joseph Sellers. He responds to a question about the suicide prevention trainings that SMART is hosting, and how they can help connect SMART members in crisis with member assistance programs.

Return to Talking SMART index page.


Talking SMART is a member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network — working people’s voices, broadcasting worldwide 24 hours a day.