The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) announced in September, during National Suicide Prevention Month, a new effort in addressing the high rate of suicides among construction workers.
According to AGC CEO Stephen E. Sandherr, construction workers are five times more likely to die by suicide than workplace safety hazards. “We cannot stand by while a silent epidemic of suicide takes place within our industry,” he said.
AGC is preparing a series of video public service announcements (PSAs) featuring construction workers who almost succumbed to their mental health challenges. The workers in these videos urge members of the construction industry to not be afraid to seek help. In addition to the video PSAs, which will begin being aired this fall, AGC is launching a quarterly forum to share examples of successful mental health and suicide prevention efforts. The national association is also assembling a collection of resources for construction companies and workers about mental health and suicide prevention, which will be available at no cost online for construction firms.
“We want to reduce the stigma of mental health issues in this industry, let people know it is OK to ask for help and, ultimately, safe lives,” Sandherr said. AGC’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Task Force is coordinating these efforts. “The bottom line is safety isn’t just about wearing the right protective equipment,” Sandherr said. “It is about understanding you are not alone and that it is OK to ask for help.”
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