SUICIDE PREVENTION IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Construction has the 2nd highest rate of suicides among all occupations. It is a high-stress job that has high rates of alcohol and drug use, as well as a “tough guy” culture.

AGC New Mexico is committed to offering our members the necessary tools and resources to help save lives. Mental health needs to be a part of the safety conversation.

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number now available nationwide just like dialing 9-8-8. It remains FREE, CONFIDENTIAL and available 24/7.

Annual Summit - Registration here - September 9th

AGC & YouTurn Health Partner to Combat Substance Use and Suicides in Construction

AGC of America and Youturn Health are dedicated to providing support for behavioral health and substance use issues, and AGC is thrilled to announce a new program that provides member firms with special discounts on Youturn Health's innovative, construction-industry focused education and support services for your employees and their families.

The statistics speak for themselves—stress, depression, and substance use have taken a toll on the construction industry, with suicide rates soaring to 53.2 per 100,000 U.S. workers. This alarming figure is 4x higher than the national average and 5x greater than all other construction fatalities combined.

Youturn Health Provides:

Peer Support - Trained peer coaches use their own experiences overcoming substance use and behavioral health struggles to help people take meaningful steps in their own journey.
Online Learning and Videos - Access to over 450 educational videos and stories that help people understand stress, anxiety, depression, substance use, and more.
Family Support - Family and loved ones also get access to the program and their own dedicated peer coach.

LEARN MORE

Resources from AGC of America
We encourage you to browse the wealth of information available through the AGC Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Task Force to help you and your teams make the most of National Suicide Prevention Month:

-Employer Best Practices Guide
-Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Program
-Toolbox Talks
-PSA Video Series
-Coins/Stickers/Posters/Banners

Quick Links

Toolbox Talks
- Healthy Coping & Personal Resilience Tools
- Preventing Suicide in Construction (English | Spanish)
- 12-Pack of Toolbox Talk
  - Mental Health vs Mental Illness
  - Reducing Stigma
  - Stress
  - Depression vs Anxiety
  - Self-Care: More Than a Fad
  - Awareness of Your Own Mental Health
  - How to Get Help
  - Suicide Awareness
  - Alcohol & Drug Use
  - Opioids & Other Pain Killers
  - Feeling Fatigued
  - Bullying - Beyond the Schoolyard

Coins, Stickers, Banners, etc. - AGC of Missouri has developed a wealth of tangible items (HOPE Coins, Hard Hat Stickers, Banners, and "Let's Talk" conversation card sets) for download or purchase directly from the supplier. Their innovative outreach program titled Hang On Pain Ends (HOPE) offers a position of care and concern while also offering assistance to those who may be in crisis. While they have been gracious enough to design and make available this program, please respect the branding and acknowledgment of their contributors. If you have any questions, please contact Brandon Anderson.
- Posters/Banners
- Stickers (RUOK | Hope Sticker - Circle Coin | Hope Sticker - Flag)
- "Let's Talk" Conversation Cards (please contact Brandon Anderson)
- Order Link for HOPE Coins - https://www.firstplacepins.com/products/associated-general-contractors-hope-coin

Articles
- Myth Busters: Mental Health on the Jobsite (March/April 2023)
- Continuing to Shine a Light on Mental Health (January/February 2023)
- How AGC is Fighting the Suicide Epidemic (November/December 2022)
- Coming Together to Move Mental Health Forward (November/December 2022)
- On Worker Wellness (September/October 2022)

Podcasts/Webinars/Videos/etc.
- Contractors Care: An Industry of Support (April 2023)
- Hold On Pain Ends (September 2022)
- Address the Stress: Mental Health for You and Your Teams (May 2022)
- Pain Management for Contractors: Preventing, Identifying and Addressing Opioid Use/Abuse on the Jobsite (May 2022)

Mental-Health Best-Practice Guide - Written as a Master’s Degree thesis by AGC of Washington safety director, Mandi Kime (CHST, B.S. & B.A., Central Washington University), this Mental-Health Best-Practice Guide is backed by member input to a construction-focused survey. Detailing eight practices that construction employers should consider, this is the first time, to our knowledge, that new data has been developed for mental health in construction that is completely accessible publicly.

Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Program - AGC of Washington has written a FREE SAMPLE Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Program that can be incorporated into your existing written safety and health programs and policies.

Mental Health for the Construction Industry - Online training co-developed by AGC of Missouri and Washington University in St. Louis. Not only is physical safety important, but the safety of our mental and emotional health is also important. Click here for more information on taking better care of your mental health.
How to Build Wellness Programs with Impact - The construction industry is raising awareness and encouraging open discussion about mental health and substance abuse to reduce suicide in the workforce. We can all agree this is a scary subject and we need to address the public health crisis in our country. But how do we heal our workforce? Please use the resources on this page to help you spot warning signs, start the conversation, and provide support to those who need it – which can save lives. It takes construction professionals at all levels working together and with their risk partners to build a culture of caring and prevention.