By Colleen Gemmill, VP – Signs & Safety, D.E. Gemmill, Inc.
We all know men and women in construction are tough in many ways. We also know there is a severe shortage in the industry. But did you know there is a virtually silent killer taking the lives of these strong men and women?
I call this a silent killer because we often fail to speak about it, teach about it or mention it in any way.
This killer we are so fearful to talk about or ask others about is suicide.
We have no problem talking about other preventable deaths such as falls, struck-by incidents or caught-in/between hazards, yet somehow our mental health scares us speechless.
Asking someone if they are OK can seem more frightening than the boogeyman under our beds as kids.
Nevertheless, suicide and drug-related overdoses continue to take thousands of construction workers each year.
Suicide and Overdose in the Construction Industry
According to data released for 2024 by CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training, approximately 5,000 construction workers ages 16–64 died by suicide and another 11,300 died from drug-related overdoses.
Although those numbers are down from 2023 — approximately 5,100 suicide deaths and 15,900 overdose deaths — there is still work to be done.
Are You OK?
Here we are in 2026 with so many ways to communicate, yet we are reluctant to reach out and simply ask:
“Are you OK?”
Not only that, but many are still believing misinformation of the past that mental illness isn’t an illness at all. Despite the mounds of data and research to the contrary, there are still those who don’t believe it is real.
So not only does the construction industry have to get past not talking about mental health, but we also need to find ways to educate those who may not understand it.
You may be asking:
“What can I possibly do about it? I am only one person.”
Well, you are doing something right now. You are reading this.
That may be your first step, but it is an important one.
Educating yourself is the first step toward moving toward a solution. The fear of the unknown is what keeps us from acting. The more you learn, the easier it becomes to speak about mental health, ask if someone is OK and actively listen to their response.
You may be surprised how three simple words formed in a question can make a difference:
“Are you OK?”
Ideas to Help End the Silence
Here are a few other ideas to help end the silence of this silent killer and put some of the power back in all of us:
1. Provide wallet cards employees can carry, including:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988
- “I Have Time to Listen”
- Company mental health or Employee Assistance Program (EAP) resources, when available.
2. Post EAP, mental health and crisis-support information where employees can easily find it.
3. Use toolbox talks to discuss mental health and suicide prevention and/or incorporate employee check-in time during toolbox talks.
4. Provide employees with a confidential way to ask for help and establish a clear process for responding when someone reaches out.
Most importantly, we need to continue creating a workplace and an industry where someone feels comfortable saying:
“I’m not OK.”
Construction Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Resources
We don’t have to figure this out alone. There are organizations providing resources, education and information to help construction employers and employees start these conversations.
Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP)
The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention provides resources specifically designed to help the construction industry address suicide prevention and mental health.
CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training
CPWR – Mental Health, Addiction and Suicide Prevention Resources provides construction-specific research and resources addressing mental health, suicide, substance use and overdose.
ATSSA – American Traffic Safety Services Association
ATSSA provides education and industry resources for roadway safety professionals and helps bring attention to important issues affecting the roadway safety workforce.
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid provides training designed to help people recognize and respond to signs of mental health and substance-use challenges.
Talk Saves Lives
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Talk Saves Lives program provides education about suicide prevention, including risk factors, warning signs and how individuals can help.
If You or Someone You Know Needs Help
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Free and confidential support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
From Strong & Speechless to Tough & Talkative
The more we learn, the easier it becomes to speak about mental health, ask if someone is OK and actively listen to their response.
We can educate ourselves.
We can ask.
We can listen.
And we can make it easier for someone to say:
“I’m not OK.”
During Construction Suicide Prevention Week — and throughout the year — let’s help end the silence surrounding this silent killer.
Let’s move from strong and speechless to tough and talkative.