![]() Two years ago, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study noted that with 53.2 suicides per 100,000 workers, the construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates in the country. Now a prominent industry group has joined with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to address mental health issues among construction workers, with a particular focus on stopping suicides. “Safety includes total human health—emotional, social, mental, intellectual, financial, occupation and spiritual wellness,” remarked Greg Sizemore, vice president of health, safety, environment and workforce development for the Associated Builders and Contractors, in announcing the partnership with AFSP. Sizemore added that the people who do the actual building in the construction industry are its “greatest asset,” remarking that the joint effort between the two groups will “take our total human health and safety practices to the next level. Going forward, this is the greatest opportunity to leverage and advance world-class safety for our people, both physically and mentally.” A report published in Michigan’s Daily Telegram last year suggested that construction workers are prone to depression because they operate on strict deadlines: “Such a schedule can put pressure on the workers. When workers do not meet the deadline, they can be subject to fines.” In a press release issued by the Associated Builders and Contractors said that as a part of its partnership with AFSP it was committed to developing and disseminating “resources on mental health and suicide prevention in workplaces” in order to engage workers. The joint effort will also see a promulgation of suicide prevention education in all ABC chapters. A survey released late last year by the American Psychiatric Association indicated that among construction workers reluctant to report mental issues or thoughts of suicide, the vast majority said they were governed by concerns that they would be stigmatized by their peers. By Garry Boulard
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