By Cathy Tyler, NCCER

Every contractor understands that safety begins long before the first tool comes out. It starts with a culture where everyone takes responsibility for looking out for one another. From daily toolbox talks to job hazard analyses, the industry’s strongest safety programs are built on the belief that every person deserves to go home safe.

Today, that commitment must extend beyond physical hazards.

Construction continues to face one of the highest suicide rates of any industry, a stark reminder that some of the greatest risks aren’t always visible. While companies have made tremendous strides in reducing physical injuries on the jobsite, mental health remains an area where many organizations are still learning how to respond.

Treating mental health as part of an organization’s overall safety culture isn’t just the right thing to do. It’s an essential part of protecting the workforce and building a more resilient industry.

Safety Has Evolved. It’s Time for Mental Health to Be Part of the Conversation.

Construction has never stood still when it comes to safety. Heat illness prevention, fatigue management, ergonomics and psychological safety have all become more prominent conversations over the past decade because leaders recognized that protecting craft professionals means addressing every factor that affects their well-being.

Mental health deserves the same attention.

Stress, anxiety, depression and substance misuse don’t stay at home when someone arrives at the jobsite. They influence focus, decision-making, communication and overall performance. Left unaddressed, they can contribute to injuries, absenteeism, turnover and, in the most tragic cases, suicide.

Just as companies train employees to recognize physical hazards, they can also equip supervisors and crews with the knowledge to recognize when someone may be struggling and respond with confidence and compassion.

Why Construction Faces Unique Challenges

Suicide is complex, and no single factor causes someone to reach a crisis point. However, several realities of the construction industry can increase risk.

Construction often attracts people who pride themselves on being dependable, resilient and able to push through difficult circumstances. Those qualities are valuable on the jobsite, but they can also make it harder for someone to admit they’re struggling or ask for help.

Other challenges may include:

• Chronic pain from physically demanding work
• Long hours, schedule pressure and fatigue
• Seasonal employment and financial uncertainty
• Higher rates of substance misuse compared to many industries
• Greater access to lethal means during times of crisis

None of these factors determine a person’s future. But together, they reinforce why contractors should approach mental health with the same proactive mindset they bring to every other safety initiative.

The Role of Leadership

Creating a mentally healthy workplace doesn’t require field supervisors to become counselors. It requires them to become approachable leaders. When leaders openly discuss mental health alongside topics like heat stress, fall protection and safe lifting practices, they help remove the stigma that often prevents people from seeking help.

Sometimes the most important step is simply noticing when someone doesn’t seem like themselves.

A normally dependable employee may become withdrawn. A talkative crew member may suddenly become quiet. Someone may appear unusually frustrated, exhausted or disconnected.

Those changes don’t always signal a mental health crisis, but they create an opportunity to check in.

A simple conversation can make an enormous difference.

“I’ve noticed you haven’t seemed like yourself lately. How are you doing?”

That question communicates something every employee needs to hear: Someone noticed. Someone cares.

Having the Conversation

Many people worry that asking someone directly about suicide could make the situation worse.

Research shows the opposite. Asking thoughtful, direct questions can help someone feel seen and open the door to getting support.

If you’re concerned about someone:

• Talk privately and without distractions.
• Share what you’ve observed rather than making assumptions.
• Listen without trying to immediately solve the problem.
• If warning signs suggest someone may be in immediate danger, ask directly whether they’re thinking about suicide.

These conversations may feel uncomfortable, but avoiding them doesn’t make the risk disappear. A compassionate conversation can be the first step toward connecting someone with the help they need.

Small Actions Can Save Lives

Construction professionals understand that small safety practices prevent serious incidents. Wearing eye protection, securing a ladder or taking a moment to verify a lockout procedure may seem routine, but each action reduces risk.

Mental health works the same way.

Helping someone create distance between themselves and a means of self-harm during a crisis can save a life. Encouraging safe firearm storage, securing medications, reducing access to alcohol or other substances and helping connect someone with professional support all create valuable time for a crisis to pass.

No one should feel responsible for solving another person’s struggles alone, but everyone can help reduce immediate risk while encouraging appropriate care.

Building Resilience Into Your Safety Culture

The strongest organizations don’t wait until there’s a crisis to talk about mental health.

Instead, they build support into everyday operations.

That might include:

• Incorporating mental health into toolbox talks and safety meetings.
• Training supervisors to recognize warning signs and respond appropriately.
• Promoting Employee Assistance Programs and other mental health resources.
• Encouraging peer support and regular check-ins.
• Celebrating a culture where asking for help is viewed as a sign of strength, not weakness.

When mental health becomes part of routine safety conversations, it becomes easier for employees to speak up before challenges become emergencies.

A Partnership Focused on Saving Lives

To help contractors bring these conversations to their jobsites, NCCER partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to develop Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention in the Construction Industry.

Designed specifically for construction, the free online program helps participants recognize risk factors, identify warning signs and learn practical ways to respond when someone may be struggling.

Like every successful safety initiative, suicide prevention starts with education. Giving employees the confidence to recognize concerns and start a conversation helps create workplaces where people know they’re not alone.

Building a Stronger Industry

Construction has always been built on teamwork. Crews watch each other’s backs, speak up when something doesn’t look right and step in before a small problem becomes a serious incident.

Mental health deserves that same commitment.

When contractors expand their definition of safety to include emotional well-being alongside physical protection, they create workplaces where people feel supported.

Because sometimes the most important thing we can do for a coworker isn’t handing them the right tool. It’s asking one simple question:

“How are you doing?”

To learn more about Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention in the Construction Industry, visit nccer.to/talksaveslives.

About the Author

Cathy Tyler is the Director of Workforce Development at NCCER and has supported the organization’s mission for 26 years. Throughout her career, she has led impactful partnerships with organizations such as FFA, COABE, and Hiring Our Heroes, while also serving in leadership roles with ACCE and TIVA to advance workforce development initiatives both locally and nationwide. She is passionate  about building cross-sector partnerships, developing workforce solutions, and strengthening industry outcomes.