The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that over 6,000 construction workers died in the U.S. by suicide in 2022, making it one of the industries with the highest suicide rates.
Male construction workers are 75% more likely to die by suicide than other men, NBC News reported, citing CDC. In 2022, an estimated 6,000 construction workers died by suicide, marking an increase from 2021. In comparison, about 1,000 construction workers died from work-related injuries.
Safety director for a large Boston construction firm, Justin Azbill, who started working as an ironworker at construction sites, was among those who thought about taking his life.
Now, Azbill travels to construction sites across the country to share his story.
Recently, Azbill told thousands of construction workers in a swath of Arizona desert -- that is intended to become home to a multibillion-dollar semiconductor plant -- how he had been under intense pressure for months during the pandemic.
"I was working 19-hour days, and then I couldn't sleep at night. Try that for six months and see where someone would be," he said. "You start seeing everything negatively, there is this darkness. I was crying myself to sleep."
Tired and overwhelmed, he packed a way to harm himself in his lunch bag. However, his daughter asked him to stay home that morning. He did, and it gave him a moment of clarity. Azbill then reached out to a friend for help.
During his speech, he also addressed the rising number of suicides among construction workers.
"In the construction industry, we've generationally been taught that if you talk to someone about a weakness or you're struggling then you're weak and you won't get hired," Azbill said, NBC News reported.
"There is this darkness. I was crying myself to sleep," he said, adding that he used to think his wife and daughter didn't really care for him.
However, he noted that he used to stay angry all the time and his family was just being cautious around him as they didn't wanted to cause more problems for him.
While the working hours and sleep impacted his mental health, COVID was a catalyst, as some workers weren't following safety protocols, which this angered him so bad that he started to black out and get suicidal thoughts.
"One of the reasons I talk about it so freely is so people know that it's normal and it's OK," he added.
Vice president of public affairs and workforce for the Associated General Contractors of America Brian Turmail also addressed the workers and said, "When you're more likely to be killed by your own hands than to get killed in a jobsite accident, that's a crisis in our industry."
"We know pretty much what needs to happen to protect people physically. We're figuring out how to protect people mentally."
Superintendent for Hoffman Construction Josh Vitale also echoed similar sentiments, explaining that construction jobs are not just physically stressful but also impact mentally and psychologically.
In order to remove the stigma surrounding seeking treatment for mental health issues, the industry has employed strategies such as PSA-style videos and distributing materials like magnets, poker chips and stickers at construction sites to promote the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Worksite talks and suicide prevention training courses have also been set up at sites to help workers.
Earlier this year, construction firm Bechtel announced a $7 million initiative with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to provide mental health programs for construction workers, aiming to reach 500,000 people in the industry.
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