Every year, we a light on a topic that many in the construction industry are not comfortable discussing: suicide prevention. September marks National Suicide Prevention Month, which is an opportune time to inform and engage colleagues, employees and partners about the warning signs and proactive measures leaders can take to quash the issue.
Many don’t think suicide is an issue in the construction industry, but that could not be further from the truth. In fact, the construction industry has the second-highest rate of suicide among all U.S. industries, surpassed only by mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction. The Centers for Disease Control reports construction workers are five times more likely to die by suicide than from an actual workplace injury. These statistics show why suicide prevention deserves the same attention and commitment as physical safety.
Suffice it to say, suicide is an important topic worth actively addressing. While this is a national issue, it's one that resonates here in Texas, where the pace of construction and workforce demands continue to grow.
Why the High Rates?
Construction is stressful at every level. The sheer physical demands on a worker’s body are incredible and often lead to musculoskeletal injuries. This can then turn into chronic pain that is managed by prescription painkillers. Unfortunately, this may lead to substance abuse and addiction.
Beyond the obvious physical issues, the long hours and shift work can take their toll. Tight deadlines coupled with long hours add pressure. Workers in the industry also face added pressure due to the labor shortage. When there isn't enough skilled labor to fulfill the duties, it becomes an added stressor. On the other hand, construction can be seasonal, and factors such as weather delays, shifting schedules and fluctuations in workload can add to workers' stress and concerns about job security.
Most of all, many workers still feel pressure to handle challenges on their own rather than ask for help. In environments where people believe they need to "push through" difficult situations, conversations about mental health can be avoided or delayed. Workers are just as likely to face depression as anyone else, but they may be reluctant to pursue mental health care.
When workers who are struggling with substance abuse, depression and/or anxiety come to work, they are not contributing to a safe work environment. They are most likely distracted and fatigued. When anyone is in this state, there are more incidents and injuries, but in the worst case, there is a chance of self-inflicted harm or even death.
Normalize Speaking Up
One of the most important things construction leaders can do is change the culture. A positive cultural change around suicide awareness and prevention encourages open, honest conversations. When one person shares their struggles, the door opens for others to comfortably share their own difficulties.
One important program that has helped Skanska employees and partners tackle the taboo nature of talking about mental health and seeking treatment is equipping employees with mental health first-aid training and certification, which we call the Green Sticker Program. We certify employee participants on how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. Those who complete the training receive a green sticker for their hard hat, which invites anyone experiencing a mental health concern to seek them out for help. This program opens the door and prepares mental health first aiders to better engage with fellow employees and subcontractors who may be experiencing a crisis, and it could save a life.
Whether it's a formal companywide initiative or a smaller effort led by a project team, the first step is creating visible, accessible pathways for people to ask for help. Encouraging top-down use of the program and showing you mean it by providing the avenues needed to ease resistance is how you’ll achieve successful adoption of more open dialogue about mental health concerns.
Make the Change
Creating a supportive work environment is a great place to start. Even if you do not develop your own program, it's important to provide a variety of resources for wellbeing and mental health support. A good resource provider to tap is the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, which has a presentation called “Talk Saves Lives.” This virtual session covers the scope of the problem of suicide; its prevalence in the construction industry; key research findings, such as risk factors; and recommendations for the role we can all play in suicide prevention.
Adding access to virtual tools, training and development on top of organized, in-person programs can help fellow leaders and teams navigate mental health issues as they arise.
A few more easy ways to make mental health a priority are:
- Toolbox Talks: Openly discuss stress, burnout and fatigue during safety briefings.
- Hazard Reporting: Let workers know that speaking about mental strain, sleep deprivation or substance concerns is proactive hazard reporting, not personal weakness.
- Helpline Information: Make helpline or crisis line numbers available around job sites.
- Employee Assistance Programs: Remind employees about the mental health and substance abuse support available through the EAP.
- Set work hours and breaks: Timelines are tight, but respecting work hours and breaks throughout the day allows for a mental and physical reset.
We've spent decades building a culture where workers look out for one another's physical safety. Mental health deserves the same commitment. By creating environments where people feel comfortable speaking up and seeking support, we can help ensure everyone goes home safe, physically and mentally.
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