By NCCER Staff

The construction industry is no stranger to physical risk. Every day, workers face hazardous conditions, heavy equipment and demanding schedules. Safety talks, hard hats and protective gear are part of the culture. Yet the most urgent risk to construction workers today is often the one we don’t see: mental health and suicide.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), construction has one of the highest suicide rates of any industry: More than 6,000 construction workers die by suicide per year. This accounts for more than 12 percent of all suicide deaths in the United States.

It’s a crisis that demands the same attention, planning and prevention strategies we devote to jobsite safety. Building resilience means prioritizing not only physical protection but also mental health at work.

A Partnership to Save Lives

Recognizing the gravity of this challenge, NCCER has partnered with AFSP to bring suicide prevention training directly to the industry. Together, they developed Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention in the Construction Industry. This course is designed to help everyone on the jobsite understand risk factors, recognize warning signs and take action when someone may be struggling.

This collaboration underscores a shared commitment: Just as we protect workers with harnesses and hard hats, we must also protect them with tools and knowledge to safeguard mental health.

Why Construction Workers Are at Higher Risk

Suicide does not have a single cause. It results from a combination of risk factors, stressors and access to lethal means. But the construction environment can intensify vulnerabilities. Workers in the industry often face:

• A culture of stoicism and toughness. Asking for help can be seen as weakness, making it less likely that workers will speak up about mental health struggles.
• Chronic physical pain or injury. Repeated strain and workplace injuries can lead to lasting discomfort and hopelessness.
• Access to lethal means. With higher firearm ownership among construction workers, risk increases during moments of crisis.
• Substance use. Alcohol and opioids are prevalent in the industry, both as coping mechanisms and as contributors to impaired judgment.
• Job insecurity. Cyclical work, seasonal layoffs and financial instability heighten stress.

None of these factors make suicide inevitable, but together they create an environment where the risk is elevated.

Starting the Conversation

Many people hesitate to ask direct questions about suicide out of fear they’ll “put the idea” in someone’s head. Research shows the opposite, that asking directly can open the door to honest conversation and relief.

AFSP and NCCER recommend approaching privately, with care and without judgment:

• Start with concern: “I care about you and I’ve noticed you haven’t been yourself lately.”
• Observe behavior: “You seem more frustrated than usual. How are you doing?”
• Listen with empathy, not advice: “That sounds really hard. I want to help you find support.”
• Ask directly if needed: “Are you thinking about suicide?”

If the answer is yes, follow up: Do they have a plan? Access to means? Can steps be taken to make their environment safer? These conversations can be uncomfortable, but they are lifesaving.

Building a Safer Environment

In construction, workers know the importance of creating safe physical environments. Mental health requires the same approach. The most important protective measures we can provide are time and distance — putting space between someone in crisis and their chosen means of harm.

That may mean:

• Encouraging safe storage of firearms and/or ammunition.
• Removing or securing medications and toxic substances.
• Suggesting a pause in alcohol or substance use.
• Encouraging them to meet with a mental health professional

Even small actions can give someone the crucial time needed for a crisis to pass.

Instilling Protective Factors

Just as risk factors increase vulnerability, protective factors strengthen resilience. Construction companies can play a direct role in building these buffers:

• Connection: Fostering a culture of belonging, teamwork and respect.
• Support systems: Encouraging peer check-ins, mentorship and open-door policies.
• Access to care: Promoting Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), counseling or wellness resources.
• Resilience skills: Offering stress management, problem-solving and coping strategy workshops.

A workplace that treats mental health like any other safety priority creates conditions where resilience can thrive.

Practical Steps for Real Change

So how can contractors translate these lessons into practice? The NCCER–AFSP Talk Saves Lives course recommends four simple but powerful steps:

1. Watch for warning signs. Educate supervisors and crews to recognize them.
2. Have a conversation. Train leaders to approach with empathy, not judgment.
3. Make the environment safe. Reduce access to lethal means where possible.
4. Connect to resources. Post crisis lines, EAP details and local support prominently.

Resources include the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) and the Crisis Text Line (text TALK to 741741). Consider also adding mental health resources into your safety manuals, jobsite postings and toolbox talks.

Changing the Culture of Construction

At its core, suicide prevention in construction requires a culture shift. Crews need to know that it’s not only acceptable but expected to check in on one another. Frontline supervisors must model openness by talking about mental health without stigma.

By integrating mental health into daily safety conversations, contractors can normalize asking questions like “How are you holding up?” and “Do you feel supported?”

This partnership between AFSP and NCCER ensures the industry has a program tailored specifically for its workforce. Talk Saves Lives is designed to be delivered onsite or virtually, adapted to include company-specific resources and even expanded into toolbox talks.

A Shared Responsibility

Suicide prevention is not the sole responsibility of HR, safety officers or mental health professionals. It is a collective effort that requires vigilance, compassion and action from every level of the construction workforce.

Resilience is built by reinforcing each other. By watching for warning signs, starting difficult conversations, creating safer environments and connecting to resources, contractors can save lives.

To enroll in Talk Saves Lives, visit https://nccer.to/talksaveslives.

About the author: 

Through industry-recognized training, credentials, and partnerships, NCCER empowers the construction industry to develop and grow a safe, skilled, and sustainable workforce. NCCER is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit education foundation providing industry-recognized credentials.