With one of the highest suicide rates of any profession, the construction industry faces a mental health crisis.
Men working in construction are specially at risk for mental health issues and thoughts of suicide. The suicide rate of those working in construction is 75% higher than that of men in the general population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2022, an estimated 6,000 construction workers died by suicide, up from the previous year. That’s six times the number of workers — about 1,000 — who died from job-related injuries.
Studies have shown that approximately 15% of tradespeople struggle with substance abuse, twice the rate of the general population. There is a dangerous link from substance abuse to suicide and mental health is now directly connected to safety on the job.
