June 28 Event in Downers Grove to Address Mental Health Crisis Among Construction Workers

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., June 13, 2025 — The Illinois construction industry is taking a powerful step to confront an often-overlooked crisis: suicide among its workforce. On Saturday, June 28, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Illinois Chapter will hold its first-ever Construction Hike for Hope at Hidden Lake Forest Preserve in Downers Grove.

Part of a broader national effort, the Construction Hike for Hope campaign is designed to bring visibility to mental health challenges in the trades while fostering community support among construction professionals and their families.

“Too many lives are lost in an industry that builds our homes, roads, and cities,” said Angela Cummings, Executive Director of AFSP Illinois. “Our Construction Hike for Hope is about raising awareness, fighting stigma, and giving workers and their families—hope and help. Mental health safety must be part of the job.”

Event Details:

• What: Illinois Construction Hike for Hope
• When: Saturday, June 28, 2025
• Time: Check-in at 10:00 a.m.; Program begins at 11:00 a.m.
• Where: Hidden Lake Forest Preserve, 4255 Navistar Drive, Downers Grove, IL
  (Entrance on the east side of Route 53 just south of Butterfield Road)
• Registration: Free and open to all; no fundraising minimum required
• More Info: AFSP Illinois Construction Hike

Attendees can expect a short ceremony, a 2-mile scenic walk, and on-site access to mental health resources from AFSP and its partners. Speakers will include Phil Martinez, Chair of the AFSP Illinois Board.

Addressing a Deadly Trend

Construction and extraction workers face the highest suicide rate of any occupational group in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—nearly four times higher than the national average. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics supports this data, revealing that suicides in the construction industry outnumber all other job-related fatalities combined.

Several factors contribute to the crisis, including intense work schedules, physical strain, isolation from family and support systems, and a longstanding culture that stigmatizes mental health discussions.

AFSP’s initiative aims to change that narrative.

“By coming together in community, we’re not just raising funds—we’re raising awareness and helping shift the culture,” Cummings added. “This hike is for the dads, brothers, sons, mothers, sisters, daughters, friends, and coworkers we’ve lost—and for those who are still with us and need support.”

About the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
AFSP is a leading nonprofit dedicated to saving lives and offering hope to individuals affected by suicide. Through education, advocacy, and support services, the organization works to reduce the national suicide rate and improve mental health understanding. Learn more at afsp.org/chapter/illinois.

Resources:

• Suicide Prevention Support
• Warning Signs
• How to Report on Suicide
• Public Service Campaign: Talk Away the Dark

Originally reported by American Foundation For Suicide Prevention in PR News Wire.