September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and the statistics related to suicide in the construction industry are alarming. While approximately 1,000 construction workers die each year from work-related accidents, nearly five times as many workers will die from suicide.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranks construction among the industries with the nation’s highest rate of death by suicide.
NAHB and its official safety sponsor, Builders Mutual, are committed to saving more lives. They have provided several resources aimed at addressing this crisis:
- Tips for contractors and crews to promote better mental health
- Strategies for suicide and substance abuse prevention
- Resource library on suicide prevention
- Podcast: Improving mental health in the construction industry
Builders Mutual, headquartered in North Carolina, is one of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast’s leading writers of commercial insurance for the construction industry. Since its inception, Builders Mutual has expanded its territory beyond North Carolina to include the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The company provides coverage to more than 29,000 policyholders through over 7,000 sales agents and employs more than 450 staff at its Raleigh headquarters.