Mental Health and Suicide Prevention IN THE WORKPLACE Nearly one in five adults has experienced some kind of mental health disorder. Research indicates that mental health conditions — such as depression, psychosis, substance use, anxiety, personality-, eating- and trauma-related disorders — can increase the risk of suicide. In fact, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 90% of people who die by suicide have a diagnosable and potentially treatable mental health condition. Suicide does not discriminate. Anyone can be affected, from teachers and food servers to emergency first responders, air traffic controllers and construction workers. When mental health issues are not dealt with, it affects a wide range of people — from families and friends to co-workers, as well. Many of us have been affected by the epidemic of suicide and have lost friends and loved ones. In 2022, 49,449 people committed suicide, or 5.7 suicides every hour. In 2023, the numbers surpassed 50,000 suicide deaths. Mental health officials say this is the highest rate of suicide that our nation has ever seen — a tragic reality of the world in which we live. According to the CDC, 53.3 construction workers out of 100,000 people commit suicide. These numbers are made even more sobering in stark contrast to the average suicide rate in the United States, which is just 12.93 individuals per 100,000 people. The suicide rate among construction workers is at least four times greater than the national average. That is heartbreaking. “This is a national tragedy, and we must end these unprecedented, unacceptable and devastating deaths among our colleagues,” said Greg Sizemore, ABC vice president of health, safety, environment and workforce development. “Construction workers work with tools every day, and we must equip these 7.7 million workers with the tools they need to prioritize mental health and protect their emotional well‑being. They will use them.” Indeed, the idea of skyrocketing numbers of suicide victims within the construction industry came to the attention of the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) in 2016. The group, now known as the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP), gathers support from unions, associations, contractors and mental health organizations across the nation. Some of the largest organizations in the construction industry support CIASP’s efforts, including the Associated Builders and Contractors, the National Association of Home Builders and The Associated General Contractors of America. “The risk factors for construction workers aren’t new,” said Michelle Walker, a CIASP board member who also serves as vice president of finance and administration at SSC Underground in Phoenix. “A stoic, independent, tough-guy mentality may keep workers from seeking help. Others may not offer help because they don’t feel comfortable intervening.” Men are twice as likely to die by suicide as women, and the demographics in the construction industry certainly play a role: Over 96% of construction workers are men. Other risk factors might involve chronic pain due to the physicality construction jobs demand, substance abuse and shift work that often disrupts sleep and time away from home. “It is time to shatter the stigma surrounding mental health issues with the goal of creating a zero-suicide industry,” said Sizemore. “Employers can build a resilient workforce by providing access to resources to improve total human health: physical, mental, emotional, social, intellectual, financial, occupational and spiritual wellness.” 22
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