Break the Stigma: Participate in Construction Suicide Prevention Week!

By Cass Jacoby. 

Suicide prevention week begins this Labor Day, here is how to participate and talk to your crews about this important topic.  

Here is a fact that might surprise you: construction has the highest suicide rates in America. Statistically someone on your crew is probably struggling with depression or suicidal ideation right now. We all know that construction can be a dangerous job, but we don’t always acknowledge how mental health factors into the hazards of the job.  

Mental health in the workplace is clearly a pressing issue within the industry, yet it is a subject that we often avoid talking about because it can be uncomfortable. Too often, we don’t have these vital conversations until it is too late. It is more important than ever to find tools and resources so we can better support ourselves and each other. 

Part of implementing a successful safety program looks like educating your workers on the disproportionate rates of suicide in the industry, and actively taking part in prevention by providing resources. 

A great way to kickstart this conversation is to actively participate in Construction Suicide Prevention Week this year, starting September 5, 2022 until September 9, 2022. Throughout this week, help promote suicide prevention by setting aside 20-30 minutes daily to share resources, partake in an activity that works to reduce the stigma, or help your employees recognize warning signs.  

Don’t forget to share these resources on your social media channels and actively promote what you are doing throughout this week, as social media coverage helps spread the message and is a huge part of breaking down the stigma and making these conversations more commonplace.  

National Women in Roofing (NWiR) is encouraging roofers to commit their organization to participating in Construction Suicide Prevention Week now. Register with how you plan to participate, and you’ll receive an OSHA-recognized, industry-endorsed certificate of participation and an electronic badge to use on your website. 

After Construction Suicide Prevention Week is over, it’s important to keep the conversation going year- round. It is important to make sure your employees know that mental health is part of their general health and how important it is to take care of your mind as well as your body. 

If you are in crisis, there are plenty of resources to help you cope and to support you. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at any time to speak with someone and get support. The phone number was recently shortened to make it easier for people to remember and access services. For confidential support available 24/7 for everyone in the United States, call 988. 

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About Cass  

Cass works as a reporter/writer for RoofersCoffeeShop, AskARoofer and MetalCoffeeShop. When she isn’t writing about roofs, she is putting her Master degree to work writing about movies and dancing with her plants.