Construction CEOs Form Suicide Prevention, Mental Health Council
A group of CEOs representing some of the largest construction companies in the U.S. has come together under a new initiative focused on preventing suicide and advocating for mental health in the industry.
The CEO Advisory Council, spearheaded by Reston, Virginia-based Bechtel, aims to bring change to a sector where workers are four times more likely to die by suicide than other industries, as Bisnow reported last month.
The new council was formed last week, Bechtel announced and Construction Dive first reported.
The nine-member team will help guide a new $7M effort from Bechtel and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention formed last spring that aims to reach 500,000 U.S. construction workers over five years through industry-specific programming and resources.
“The more we can engage a broad group of leaders and collaborate on solutions, the more effective we will be in providing our people the support they need,” Bechtel Chairman and CEO Brendan Bechtel said in a release. “We owe it to them, to our colleagues, and to their families to find solutions and prevent these tragedies.”
The CEO Advisory Council’s founding members are DPR Construction CEO George Pfeffer, Clark Construction CEO Robert Moser, Jr., North America’s Building Trades Unions President Sean McGarvey, Kiewit CEO Rick Lanoha, Skanska USA CEO Richard Kennedy, Turner Construction Co. CEO Peter Davoren, Fluor Corp. CEO David Constable, Stanley Black & Decker CEO Don Allan Jr. and Bechtel.
The council will meet quarterly, the release said, to evaluate the industry's mental health programs, identify gaps in support and design initiatives specifically for construction workers.
“It’s powerful to see these top leaders across the construction community coming together to support this unique suicide prevention initiative,” American Foundation for Suicide Prevention CEO Robert Gebbia said. “Their involvement sends a clear message that the industry is committed to finding solutions and making a difference in the lives of its workers.”
The rate of substance abuse disorders for construction workers is nearly double that of the general population, according to the American Addiction Centers — 15% of construction workers have such a disorder, compared to 8.6% in the overall working population. A construction worker is also six times more likely to die of suicide than from an on-the-job related incident, per the CDC.
Meanwhile, stigma and fear of judgment prevent workers from seeking help. Just over a quarter of construction workers say they are likely to seek care when experiencing mental health or substance use concerns, a 2021 industry survey by the Center for Workplace Mental Health shows. For those who say they may not seek care, 78% say they fear shame and stigma and 77% say they are concerned about peer judgment.
