Many industries are under pressure as uncertainty grows around the future of their workforce, production, and the economy. Federal ICE agents can show up at any time, leaving both business owners and workers under immense stress.
In response, some business owners have gone beyond providing legal defense information—they’re now offering wellness and mental health resources not only to their employees but also to their families.
This week, a construction company in Fresno set an example. Panos Concrete has launched a program aimed at supporting its workers’ mental health.
Karina Pano co-owns Panos Concrete with her parents. Their team of seven provides industrial, commercial, and residential concrete services throughout California’s Central Valley and the Bay Area.
Although the company has been in business for over 30 years, it wasn’t until 2022—when Karina joined—that they began prioritizing mental health, according to a report in the Fresno Bee.
“I knew that whatever we did in the construction business, it had to have a social mission,” Pano told the Bee. “The lack of mental health resources and awareness among Latino construction workers is a major reason we do this work.”
Pano holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Fresno State, where she also worked as a graduate research assistant focused on Latino mental health. Her research explored language barriers and the limited access to mental health services in Fresno, aiming to understand the challenges faced by the Latino community.
She explained that mental health is especially important in construction due to the stress and lack of job stability. “There are seasons when there’s plenty of work, and others when there’s none,” she said. “A lot of coping habits form in response to that stress, and substance abuse becomes a concern.”
“I get at least five calls a week from people looking for work and following up,” she added. “The market is unstable right now, and that’s deeply affecting construction workers.”
To address this stress, Pano created a resource guide for her employees—and for the broader Central Valley construction community. The guide includes Spanish-language terms for mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, their symptoms, and a list of local support services.
“As a business owner, people aren’t always comfortable sharing mental health or substance abuse issues with you—or even with their families—so I knew I needed to raise awareness and create this resource,” Pano said.
Late last year, she began developing a mental health app that incorporates physical activity and relaxation techniques. Set to launch later this year, the interactive app will include guided exercises, yoga sessions, and access to mental health therapists. It’s being developed in collaboration with a Fresno State kinesiology student.
“If you’re a construction worker, it’s important to know how to relax your body after a long day,” she explained. “That’s a core focus of the app.”
Pano also emphasized the broader mission of their seminars: “The goal wasn’t just to highlight mental health. We also wanted to promote family time and offer tools for those interested in starting their own businesses.”
Looking ahead, she hopes to grow her family’s concrete company while also developing a credible online platform—through an app or website—specifically for Latino, Spanish-speaking construction workers in the Central Valley. Topics she plans to include are career advancement, intergenerational trauma, and social work.
“I know building these resources and seeing real change will take time,” she said. “But right now, my main focus is understanding how immigration issues are impacting our community.”
