This keynote confronts an urgent safety crisis in the construction and electrical trades: hopelessness. Using powerful data and storytelling, it reveals that mental health is the leading risk in the trades—surpassing even physical hazards. Framed as a “War on Hopelessness,” the keynote challenges organizations to treat mental well-being with the same rigor as physical safety. It introduces the “5th Wire”—the internal wire carrying hope, purpose, and resilience often missing from safety systems. Shifting from reactive response to proactive prevention, it underscores the impact of belonging and trust on safety and retention. The call to action is clear: we are our brother’s keeper, and together, we can prevent loss before it happens.