September is National Suicide and Prevention Month; September 5th-9th was OSHA’s Construction Suicide Prevention and Awareness week. A week dedicated to raising awareness about the higher-than-average number of suicides in the construction industry and providing resources to help prevent those deaths. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the construction industry has the second highest rate of suicide in the United States at 53.3 per 100,000 workers. In the U.S., there are approximately 123 suicides per day, which breaks down to one death every 12 minutes. (SafeBuild Alliance).
At A.L. Huber, we are dedicated to changing these statistics, but it will take the whole industry to change the stigma around mental health. This week we were honored to host the Area Director of OSHA, Karena Lorek, for a Suicide Prevention & Awareness Stand Down. Talking about mental health and encouraging others to talk is an easy step to take in the right direction. Together we can save lives.
If you are suicidal, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
For more resources, visit https://constructionsuicideprevention.com/resources/
