Construction Suicide Prevention Week is Sep. 9-13 

Together We Can Save Lives

The construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates among professions - with the rate among male construction workers 75 percent higher than men in the general population.

In all, an estimated 6,000 construction workers died as a result of suicide in 2022, an increase from 2021. That compares to 1,069 who died from a construction work-related injury. 

There is no single cause for suicide. Often, stressors and health issues come together to create feelings of hopelessness and despair. Most people at risk of dying by suicide exhibit warning signs, so it’s important that managers and coworkers know what to watch for and can offer help.

The Centers for Disease Prevention offers this guidance for employers:

Set the Tone 

Employers should lead with compassion and foster a supportive environment: 

• Speak out about workplace stress and express your commitment to prioritizing employee mental health and well-being.
• Discuss what support or services may help. Implement changes based on feedback.
• Institute an open door policy that encourages employees to share concerns and ideas with management without fear of retaliation.
• Encourage employees to connect and support one another. Provide opportunities to interact.

Policies and Programs

• Regularly review policies and procedures for how work is managed to determine if additional flexibility is needed.
• Evaluate the overall work environment, such as customer interactions, productivity schedule and pace of work to determine if there are stress factors that need to be  addressed.
• Share educational resources that address workplace stress, mental health and substance use.
• If your organization has an employee assistance program (EAP), remind employees about its benefits and encourage them to use it.
• Ensure that employees understand their health benefit plans, including coverages for mental health and substance use.
• Support employees who have been affected by suicide loss, providing resources and services to assist their healing.
• Share information about mental health resources in your community.

Equip Frontline Supervisors

• Reinforce the supervisor’s role in listening and validating employees’ feelings, concerns, and experiences. It’s important they understand that being dismissive can be harmful.
• Ensure supervisors implement all the flexibilities that you have built into your work policies and procedures. Encourage them to be creative in making adjustments for employees who are experiencing stressors at home and work, or who have been affected by suicide loss.
• Invite professionals to train supervisors to recognize suicide warning signs and initiate conversations with employees.
• Create space in management and other meetings for frontline supervisors to share their own concerns and learn from each other.

Be Prepared

Mental health and suicide are difficult to talk about - especially with work colleagues - but your actions can make a difference. When you work closely with others you may sense when someone is struggling.

• Pay Attention
  to warning signs that may signal someone is at risk for suicide. 
• Reach Out
  if you are concerned about an employee or coworker. Talk with them privately, give them your full attention, and listen without judgment.
• Take Action
  in a crisis. Stay with the employee and seek immediate help. Contact emergency services.
• Be Ready
  to support yourself and help coworkers cope with a suicide loss.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Toolbox Talk

The Warning Signs of Suicide

By the Numbers

• Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the U.S. (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• In 2020, there were 1.2 million suicide attempts
• While women are more likely to attempt suicide, men were 3.88 times more likely to die by suicide.

Why it Matters

If you are aware of the possible warning signs - in yourself and others - you may help save a life. Remember, talking about your concerns with someone is more likely to save them than drive them to see their plans through.

Verbal warning signs:

• Talk of being a burden, or the world being better without them
• Expressing the desire to no longer exist or to die

Emotional warning signs:

• No longer finds joy or pleasure in activities they once enjoyed
• Frequent or sudden emotional outbursts, including anger, sadness or anxiety
• Sudden joy or excitement after prolonged periods of depression

Behavioral changes:

• Frequent mood swings
• Giving away belongings
• Excessive sleeping
• Changes in eating habits

Help is always available. Call, text or chat 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s trained counselors.

Learn more at ConstructionSuicidePrevention.com

Prepared and edited by Michael Ballantine, Occupational Safety Consultants, www.WorkRiskFree.com