Suicide Prevention Effort Reaches 188K Construction Workers

Suicide Prevention Initiative Expands Across Construction Industry, Impacting 188K Workers

HOMER GLEN, IL — A nationwide effort to address mental health in construction is gaining momentum, with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) announcing that its Hard Hat Courage initiative has already reached more than 188,000 workers since launching in May 2025.

The initiative, fueled by Bechtel’s $7 million donation in 2024, seeks to tackle one of the industry’s most urgent issues: suicide. The construction sector has the second-highest suicide rate of any U.S. industry, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“In construction, we face some of the world’s toughest challenges, but none more urgent or personal than protecting the mental health of our people,” said Brendan Bechtel, chairman and CEO of Bechtel. “This isn’t a problem with a quick fix. It takes sustained leadership, courageous conversations, and real, practical support. Construction Suicide Prevention Week is a reminder that we are not powerless. We have a responsibility to lead with care and build a culture where no one struggles alone.”

The Hard Hat Courage program debuted with 15 new construction-specific resources and has quickly made an impact. About 165,000 of the workers reached participated in last week’s Construction Suicide Prevention Week, which included:

• 1,222 stand-downs across jobsites nationwide, where workers paused for a moment of silence to honor lives lost.
• Training of 92 employees as certified “Talk Saves Lives” facilitators to lead ongoing conversations inside their companies.
• Three virtual sessions, free to the public, which drew more than 100 participants.
• The release of Talk Saves Lives: Construction, the first of more than 50 toolbox talks planned for rollout this year.

Since May, 1,300 craft professionals have gone through the Talk Saves Lives program, gaining tools to recognize warning signs and support colleagues in crisis.

The AFSP’s efforts are strengthened by a wide industry coalition. In addition to Bechtel, Hard Hat Courage’s CEO advisory council includes leaders from Clark Construction, DPR Construction, Fluor, Kiewit, Skanska, Turner Construction, Dewalt, and North America’s Building Trades Unions.

Other partners, including the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and APM, are working to ensure suicide prevention remains embedded in training and daily operations. AFSP has also teamed up with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) to bring suicide prevention resources to major industry events. This fall, AFSP will provide programming at The Utility Expo in Louisville, Kentucky, North America’s largest trade show for utility professionals and contractors.

Construction Suicide Prevention Week, run annually since 2020, continues to serve as a focal point for awareness. Its fifth year wrapped up September 12, but advocates emphasize that the work must extend far beyond a single week.

Bechtel’s stand-downs alone this year engaged more than 32,500 workers at 53 locations. AFSP’s long-term goal is to reach half a million construction professionals within five years — a target that appears well within reach given the momentum of 2025.

Industry leaders say the growing collaboration is proof that suicide prevention is becoming a core part of safety culture. By openly addressing mental health, they aim to dismantle stigma and ensure workers know help is available.

Originally reported by Zachary Phillips in Construction Dive.