The Associated General Contractors of America is producing a series of videos, beginning a quarterly forum, and providing resources to combat high suicide rates and improve mental health among the construction industry workers. The new effort is designed to address the high rate of suicide among construction workers.
“We cannot stand by while a silent epidemic of suicide takes place within our industry,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, CEO, in a prepared statement. “We want to reduce the stigma of mental health issues in this industry, let people know it is okay to ask for help and, ultimately, save lives.”
Sandherr said the annual rate of suicide among construction workers was 53.2 per 100,000 compared to a national construction workplace fatality rate of 10.2 per 100,000 workers, noting that a construction worker is five times as likely to die by suicide than workplace safety hazards.
What’s in the AGC suicide prevention effort?
- A series of video public service announcements (PSAs) features construction workers who almost succumbed to their mental health challenges. The workers in these videos will urge members of the construction industry to not be afraid to seek help. The videos will begin becoming available in the fall.
- A quarterly forum will share examples of successful mental health and suicide prevention efforts.
- A comprehensive collection of resources for construction companies and their workers about mental health and suicide prevention. Those resources will be available online, free of charge, to all construction firms.
The new effort is being coordinated by the association’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Task Force, which is comprised of construction professionals from across the country.
“The bottom line is safety isn’t just about wearing the right protective equipment,” said Sandherr. “It is about understanding you are not alone and that it is okay to ask for help.”
Source: Associated General Contractors
