Researcher puts spotlight on suicide rates among construction workers

Blacksburg, VA — Construction employers can help stem the industry’s elevated suicide rates by enhancing their crisis management skills via training, as well as providing flexible leave policies and counseling. 

Brian Kleiner, head of the Virginia Tech Myers-Lawson School of Construction, offers that view in a recent article exploring the importance of mental health in construction.

Physical strain, cultural expectations, opioid abuse and demographics are among the characteristics that contribute to suicide in construction, Kleiner explains. This can create a potential “domino effect” between a worker’s physical and mental health.

“Construction safety, health and well-being are like a three-legged stool,” Kleiner says in the article. “If one leg is weak, the entire stool is unstable. Also, safety, health and well-being are not mutually exclusive. For example, a worker with mental health issues may take more safety risks because they are distracted or more focused on mental issues and less able to pay attention to physical labor.”

Understanding early warning signs can keep mental health issues from escalating, Kleiner adds.

OSHA advises employers to be aware of changes in workers’ behavior and mood, as well as what they discuss. If you’re concerned, ask to speak with the worker privately. Listen without judgment before encouraging the worker to contact the organization’s employee assistance program and/or human resources department, or a mental health professional.

“The first line of defense is to talk about it,” Kleiner said, “and that’s a real challenge.”