Construction Suicide Prevention Week kicks off

Monday marks the beginning of Construction Suicide Awareness Week. Contractors across the country will kick off the week with a stand down and a moment of silence in the afternoon. Other events throughout the week will incorporate education opportunities, such as toolbox talks and webinars, to raise awareness about the mental health crisis and its impact on construction.

Construction has one of the highest rates of suicide by occupation in the U.S., per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rates of men and women who work in construction and die by suicide are both higher than the U.S. national average.

But contractors know about the problem, and they act on it beyond the first full week in September. Here, Construction Dive rounds up some of our recent coverage of mental health in the industry. Read on for some of the biggest stories around initiatives in the space.