Addressing Suicide in the Construction Industry

CW: Mentions of suicide. 

We rely on construction workers to provide the infrastructure we use daily. Behind every building and road is a hard hat and a vest. In the United States alone, over ten million adults work in construction (IBIS World). However, a silent crisis urgently demands our attention: the alarmingly high rates of suicide among construction workers.

Suicide deaths in the construction industry are among the highest of any profession. In fact, construction-sector employees are four times more likely to die by suicide than the average American (CDC).  This amounts to more than 4,960 deaths by suicide each year in the industry (McCleery). These troubling trends highlight a critical need for intervention within the sector.

Several factors contribute to the elevated risk of suicide in the construction industry:

High-Stress Environment

Construction involves tight deadlines, early morning hours, and physically demmanding work. These demands yield poor sleep among construction workers, which is tethered to suicide (Eyllon). Moreover, construction workers report disproportionate rates of family conflict stemming from the job environment, which can reduce feelings of connectedness and increase one’s risk of suicidality (Lingard.)

Work Culture

Construction workers are more likely than other Americans to perceive stigma around mental health (Mohammad). This may partially be attributed to a culture of masculinity and stoicism in the industry. In the “tough guy” culture of the worksite, men struggle to ask for help; in turn, they do not receive appropriate behavioral health care (Bernardo).

Lifestyle Factors

Drug and alcohol use, including binge drinking, is significantly more common among construction workers (Strickland et. al). Substance use is connected to suicide as one in four deaths by suicide involve alcohol (Mental Health Commission of Canada).

Demographics

Construction is overwhelmingly male-dominated. 94% of all construction workers are men (CEA). Men die by suicide more than women and receive less mental health care (AFSP). Addressing suicide among construction workers also means addressing suicide among men.

Suicide among construction workers is preventable. To address mental health for men in at-risk careers, individuals across the field have come together to form the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP).

CIASP helps raise awareness of suicide in the construction industry through their STAND Up campaign, which educates professionals about how to discuss mental health with their peers. They also provide community outreach for those in need.

The inaugural Construction Suicide Prevention Week will be from September 9th through 14th. During this week, construction workers nationwide will take a moment of silence for those lost to suicide. Teams will also gather to learn warning signs, discuss how to seek help and break down stigma.

High rates of suicide in the construction industry necessitate tailored interventions and support. By leveraging innovative campaigns, we can foster a more open environment for discussing mental health, saving lives, and building a stronger industry. We need to lay the foundation for a construction culture where every worker’s well-being is prioritized: a culture where asking for help is seen as a sign of strength. 

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org/chat.

Works Cited:

Bernardo, D. (2020, June 15). Toxic masculinity and why male construction workers are the way they are. Medium. medium.com/@danieljbernardo/toxic-masculinity-and-why-male-construction-workers-are-the-way-they-are-76732efed725

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, December 14). Suicide rates by industry and occupation – National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7250a2.htm

Construction worker demographics in the U.S. Construction Worker Demographics in the U.S. | Construction Employers Association. (n.d.). ceacisp.org/news/construction-worker-demographics-us#:~:text=There%20are%20over%20767%2C992%20construction,%2C%20while%2093.8%25%20are%20men.

Eyllon, M. (2020, August). Mental health stigma and wellbeing among commercial construction workers: A mixed methods study. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32541624/

Helen Lingard, H. (2007, February 17). Work-family conflict as a mediator in the association between work stress and depressive symptoms: Cross-sectional evidence from the German lida-cohort study. International archives of occupational and environmental health. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25069900/

How alcohol and suicide are connected – a fact sheet. Mental Health Commission of Canada. (2022, April 8). mentalhealthcommission.ca/resource/alcohol-use-and-suicide-fact-sheet/

IBISWorld. IBISWorld Industry Reports. (2024, July 22). ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/employment/construction-united-states/

McCleery, T. (2020, September 9). Partnering to prevent suicide in the construction industry – building hope and a road to recovery. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2020/09/09/suicide-in-construction/

Mohammed, s. (2024). Assessment of Construction Workers’ Mental Health to Improve Wellbeing.

Strickland, J. R., Wagan, S., Dale, A. M., & Evanoff, B. A. (2017). Prevalence and perception of risky health behaviors among construction workers. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 59(7), 673–678. doi.org/10.1097/jom.0000000000001051

Suicide statistics. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (2024, May 30). afsp.org/suicide-statistics/