The construction industry is experiencing unprecedented attention to mental health and suicide prevention. Progressive contractors with leading safety, health and wellness programs are embracing mental health and suicide prevention as the next frontier in safety. This is in the backdrop of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention releasing their first report on suicide by major occupational groupings in July 2016. The report revealed that the construction/extraction industry has the highest number of suicide deaths among major occupations. Specifically, the construction/extraction industry reports 53.3 suicide deaths per 100,000 employees.

David James of FNF Inc. in Tempe, Arizona, offers pointers for initiating a company’s cultural shift. “First steps should be directed towards education, awareness and beginning the dialogue,” he said.

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