LAS VEGAS — Nevada’s construction industry — one of the largest employers in the state with more than 100,000 workers — is stepping up efforts to address what advocates describe as a “silent epidemic” of suicide among its workforce.
The urgency is real: Construction workers face a suicide rate about four times higher than the national average, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. Long hours, job instability, chronic pain, economic pressure, and a culture of toughness have all contributed to the crisis.
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For Jason Fredrich, a senior project executive with Martin-Harris Construction, the issue is personal — and nearly fatal. He first realized he needed help after attending suicide-prevention and leadership training led by Stacey Hine.
“Knowing what I learned through Stacey, and then obviously having the support of family and friends, they got me through it to where now I want to be that light for other people,” Fredrich said. “People need to know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Fredrich told his fiancée he had been close to suicide — with a plan and timeline already in mind — before coworkers helped him connect with a therapist. Today, he continues treatment and is committed to supporting others in the industry.
Hine, director of professional programs and initiatives at Associated Builders and Contractors Nevada, said several overlapping factors make construction workers more vulnerable — from dangerous work and irregular schedules to widespread substance misuse.
Construction, she explained, has long been dominated by a mindset that discourages vulnerability:
The industry’s male-driven environment has historically been one that “discourages open conversations and pushes men to tough it out instead of reaching out,” Hine said.
Overdose deaths are another major threat. CDC research shows construction has the highest overdose death rate of any U.S. occupation — 131 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2020 — often tied to opioid prescriptions following jobsite injuries.
Hine said the cycle can be devastating:
“You have guys and girls out in the field in very dangerous predicaments, getting injured, getting prescribed opiates, which are highly, highly addictive. Once that dependency starts, and someone’s caught in the cycle of addiction, the shame and the guilt and the fear of asking for help keeps them more withdrawn.”
To address the crisis, the Associated General Contractors has launched national awareness initiatives, including quarterly forums started in 2022.
“We cannot stand by while a silent epidemic of suicide takes place within our industry,” Stephen Sandherr, then the association’s CEO, wrote in a statement. “The bottom line is safety isn’t just about wearing the right protective equipment.”
In Nevada, Hine runs monthly Zoom meetings where workers can discuss mental health, addiction recovery, and suicide prevention in a confidential setting. Participation has steadily grown, with as many as 20 members joining per session.
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She said that since the pandemic:
“During that time, mental health, it became a little less stigmatized to talk about. I’m seeing that people are a little more willing to have these uncomfortable conversations. And they see the value of it, because we all had some mental health issues during the pandemic.”
Hine noted that while seasoned veterans sometimes struggle to adjust at first, she has seen remarkable transformation:
“to make a complete shift.”
Martin-Harris Construction has taken Hine’s training from the classroom to the field. Fredrich said the company has shut down entire job sites to dedicate a day to conversations about mental wellness.
With 350–500 employees across sites and offices, leaders are seeing real cultural progress. Fredrich said workers are increasingly speaking up:
People “that you wouldn’t think were having mental health struggles” are now reaching out for help.
Workers are reminded that help is always available:
📞 Dial 988 or 800-273-8255
Originally reported by Kyle Chouinard in Las Vegas Sun.
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