Dr. James T. Daley’s Post

I dislike posting this type of content but we need to bring awareness and support to those working to fix and expand America's infrastructure. Did you know that the construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates among professions? The rate among male construction workers is 75% higher than men in the general population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An estimated 6,000 construction workers died by suicide in 2022, an increase from 2021, according to the most recent data available. This compares to around 1,000 who died from a construction work-related injury. What if we built a system to help those In crisis and they have access to support 24/7?

Our industry is in crisis, and many don’t know it. The construction industry has the highest suicide rate in the country. THE HIGHEST, at 4x the national average. I am proud of the work being done by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) in this area…at our annual meeting this past September, there was a strong spotlight placed on mental health, supported by Hamilton Baiden and Dr. Vince Hafeli, D.B.A. I am also proud of the support my firm HNTB provides to our employee owners through our robust employee assistance program. But we can and must do better. “Towards Zero Deaths” or TZD is a popular phrase in the transportation industry…this should include construction workers as well. Our country needs our industry to grow, renew and evolve our infrastructure. As leaders we must expect more of ourselves and to better support the mental health of the people making this happen. https://lnkd.in/eiQgZtyX

There is a troubling issue impacting the construction industry that demands our attention: the rising rates of suicide among construction workers. A recent article highlights this critical problem, and it's essential for everyone to take a moment to read it. To address this serious concern, we had the opportunity to interview Joshua Vitale, Vice Chairman at Construction Suicide Prevention, and Mike Pugh, CHST, Safety Manager at Evergreen Innovation Group (EIG), LLC, dedicated advocates who contributed to the article. Our discussions explored the underlying factors contributing to this crisis and examined ways we can provide support to our colleagues, fostering a healthier work environment. We will be releasing episodes featuring Joshua and Mike this week. Stay tuned as we share more insights and resources to confront this pressing issue. Let’s unite to raise awareness and create a culture of support within the construction industry. https://lnkd.in/eefN8R2p #ConstructionIndustry #MentalHealthAwareness #SuicidePrevention #ConstructionPodcast

The link bellow is an article from NBC news talking about suicide rates in the construction industry. Considering how much time we spend talking about safety, I found it a little surprising that 6 times more workers are killed at their own hands than are killed on the job. I am not an expert in the reasons for this, but for construction to have a suicide rate almost twice as high as average, there seems to something about the culture or stress contributing to this. https://lnkd.in/g3kAnNCH

Tough Topic Ahead Warning: In my personal life, I am an advocate for mental health so this topic is easy and familiar for me, however, I do recognize that it's not as easy for some so I added the warning. The Construction industry may have celebrated Construction Safety Week a while back, but did you know that June is celebrated as National Safety Month? So many different safety topics I've read and yet there was only one that I saw that I felt compelled to shine some light on and that is the safety of the mental health of the men and women in Construction. Statistically, the rate of men dying by suicide in Construction is raising at an incredibly alarming rate. In fact, the attached news article is quoting the CDC as reporting "For every 100,000 male construction workers, 56 died by suicide in 2022, according to CDC data. That compared to 32 suicide deaths per 100,000 men in the general population. Males have a significantly greater rate of suicide than females." ❓ I know when we hear the word "safety", most usually we don't think about mental health, but I only ask, what could we do (individually & corporately) to be more intentional about keeping the mental health of these men (and women) safe? How do we create a safe space for these people to be vulnerable when the industry itself is often stereotyped as being the industry where there are no crybabies or whining? I'm genuinely curious how we could do this. Please feel free to share any thoughts or ideas in the comments. 🗣 #ConstructionMentalHealth #ConstructionSafety #NationalSafetyMonth2024

Did you know that construction is the most dangerous job in N.Y., especially for vulnerable populations like Latino Immigrants? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics highlights some alarming trends: 📈 The number of work accident fatalities in New York City has increased over the past three years. 🛠️ In 2022, 83 workers lost their lives due to work-related accidents in N.Y. 🔄 Falls, slips, and trips caused 21 deaths, while exposure to harmful substances or environments resulted in 19 deaths. 🏗️ The private construction industry had the highest fatalities (23), followed by transportation and warehousing (15). 👷♂️ Men represented 95% of work-related fatalities in NYC. 🌎 Hispanic or Latino workers made up 40% of workplace deaths in the city, compared to 23% nationally. 👥 Most fatalities involved workers aged 25 to 54, representing 63% of deaths. 💼 94% of fatal workplace injuries involved wage and salary workers, with 6% being self-employed. Stay safe out there, and if you’ve been injured in a construction accident, reach out to us! We are here to help.

I am astonished to read these statistics on construction industry suicides. I would have never known. Sure, we know the construction industry has an elevated risk of injury and death arising from on-site accidents, but the fact that suicide rates among construction workers is even greater, is frankly stunning to hear and unacceptable for this industry. Please take the time to read this article. Perhaps just spreading the information and generally being more aware of the stresses in the industry can bring about some change, though as I reflect on this article, it is clear more needs to be done than just that. https://lnkd.in/ew3BbfDG #construction

Sharing for awareness: an estimated six times as many construction workers die annually from suicide as from workplace injuries. A sober reminder that we still have a long way to go in addressing worker safety/wellbeing and need to treat safety as a holistic issue rather than simply a focus on avoiding incidents while on the job.

The statistics from the CDC are alarming. The fact that the suicide rate among men in construction is 75% higher than the general population underscores the urgent need for action. Particularly concerning is the statistic that two-thirds of suicides in construction trades are among those aged 40 and above. As @Joe Prim said superficial measures like hard hat stickers and posters alone won't solve this complex issue. We must foster a culture that supports mental health openly and effectively. By promoting awareness, providing resources, and encouraging open dialogue, we can create workplaces prioritizing and respecting mental well-being. Together, we can make a difference. Spread this sentiment by sharing this post. #ConstructionIndustry #MentalHealthMatters #SupportEachOther https://lnkd.in/eCb7Ztw6

The highlighted issue is a crucial part that we often overlook. Mental health is just as important as physical safety on the job site. While we invest in protective gear and safety procedures to prevent accidents, we must also invest in mental health support to prevent the silent crisis of mental illness and suicide. Let's create a safer work environment where every employee feels well treated by the employer, both physically and mentally. Remember, a healthy mind will improve efficiency and effectiveness in daily work.