A new national partnership to reduce number of construction industry suicides
February 26, 2016
The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the Carson J. Spencer Foundation, and RK Mechanical have released A Construction Industry Blueprint: Suicide Prevention in the Workplace. Sally Spencer-Thomas, CEO and co-founder of the Carson J. Spencer Foundation reports that “Demanding physical work, coupled with the stresses of seasonal employment and minimal access to mental health care, often create a workforce vulnerable to mental health challenges like depression, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts.” The strong “tough-guy culture” in the construction industry can keep workers from seeking help for health and mental health problems. The Construction Industry Blueprint calls upon construction executives to make suicide prevention a health and safety priority and provides guidelines for suicide prevention activities in the industry. RK Mechanical actively works to prevent suicide among its employees by providing workshops for employees, weekly articles in its newsletter, and a wellness staff person trained in suicide prevention.
Spark Extra! Download and read A Construction Industry Blueprint: Suicide Prevention in the Workplace.