S.T.A.N.D. up for Suicide Prevention
Safety – Create a safe culture where team members feel safe to speak up and ask for help
Training – Providing resources to recognize warning signs
Awareness – Sharing information
Normalizing – making suicide prevention and mental wellness a health and safety priority
Decreasing – work together to decrease the risk, and provide plans with preventative services
September is National Suicide Prevention Month and during the 1st week of the month industry partners come together to emphasize the need for awareness unique to construction. Construction Suicide Prevention Week (Sept 1st-4th) brings discussions, resources, and education to the forefront in hopes to break the stigma surrounding mental health.
Why build awareness? Why is the Construction Industry the most at-risk industry for suicide deaths? The construction industry has the second highest rate of suicide in the United States at 53.3 per 100,000 workers, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). In the U.S. there are approximately 123 suicides per day which breaks down to one death every 12 minutes. (SafeBuild Alliance). Irregular hours, intense demands on the physical body, jobsites requiring travel far from home, unpredictable economic shifts and, of course, machismo, all can lead to mental health conditions.
We will be holding an event on Wednesday, September 13th, in the Portland office and broadcasting live; watch for an invitation. Please encourage all your fellow team members to join us. Please see the links below and take the pledge today! Break the Stigma and STAND UP!