Suicide Prevention as a Construction Health and Safety Priority

You may ask why the construction industry has such a high rate of suicide. There are several factors that put construction workers at higher risk:

• Construction is a male-heavy occupation, and currently, eight out of 10 suicides every year in the U.S. are men.
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death for men under 45 in the U.S.
• Women attempt suicide three times more often than men, but men tend to complete a suicide because they frequently use a firearm. 
• One of the causes is toxic masculinity. There is an ideology among males where they believe they should suppress their emotions. 
• Men are often pressured to suppress their emotions, especially vulnerability, which can lead to a deterioration of mental health and difficulty forming healthy relationships. 

Some additional risk factors related to the construction sector:

• Many workers are of an age where we see the highest rates of suicide nationwide.
• Many are veterans who struggle with PTSD.
• Many injuries are treated with opioids.
• Construction is a physically demanding occupation.
• Recent research studies show that there is a relationship between physical pain and mental health disorders. Here are some signs of depression:
• They eat too much or cannot eat.
• They sleep too much or cannot sleep.
• They have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, so they are often late for work or school.
• However, they often rally in the afternoon, so they may seem like they are different people.
• They let their personal hygiene go; clothes may be dirty, or hair not so clean.

The problem is a vicious cycle: Workers experience pain, which impacts their mental health, which can affect their job performance. This leads to increased difficulties at work, which exacerbates their mental health problems, and so forth.

Again, the good news is you can make a difference, you can save a life, and you can do it by doing something as simple as starting a conversation.

What should you say to someone you believe is depressed, or who has told told you they are depressed? Let’s start with what you don’t say.

What not to say:

• Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.
• Turn that frown upside down.
• Have you tried fish oil (or something equally as dismissive and ridiculous).

What can you say?

• I’m here for you and I mean it.
• I know that you’re not lazy, crazy, or self-absorbed.
• I know that depression is mental illness.
• I know that with time and treatment things will get better.
• I will take the time, and I will help you get the treatment.

And you must ask them, “Are you having thoughts of suicide?” Just like that. If you cannot ask that question, find someone who can. And if you cannot find anyone who can, call me, and I will ask them: 858-405-5653.

There is an urban legend that you should never mention the word suicide in front of someone who is depressed, because “It might give them the idea.” In fact, the opposite is true. Mentioning it out loud reduces the chance that they will die by suicide.

Signs someone may be thinking of suicide:

• They talk a great deal about death and dying.
• You notice them Googling death, dying, or how to die by suicide.
• Death and dying appear as themes in their artwork, music, or writing.
• They are getting their affairs in order.
• They are giving away prize possessions (as they want them to go to the person they want them to go to when they are gone).
• They have been depressed for a long time, and now they are happy for no apparent reason (they may be happy because they have chosen a time, place, and method, and they know the pain is coming to an end).

What do you say if you believe someone is suicidal or they have told you they are? Again, let’s start with what you don’t say:

• You are just looking for attention.
• No one who talks about it ever does it.
• You’re just being melodramatic.

What do you say:

• Do you have a plan?
• If they have a plan, what is your plan?
• If the plan is detailed as to time, place, and method, will you let me take you to a mental health facility for evaluation?

The question often arises, “When do you call the police?” If they are a danger to themselves or others, you must call the police. But know this: if the police find that they are actively suicidal or a danger to others, they will take them into custody and bring them before a judge, who will determine if they should receive a three-day, involuntary hold. If the judge decides they do need that hold, then they will most likely spend 72-hours in a mental facility lockdown unit. They are probably going to be mad at you, and unfriend you on Facebook, but at least they will have to be alive to do that.

You can make a difference, you can save a life, and you can do it by doing something as simple as starting a conversation, and now you know how to facilitate this.

Watch one of Frank King’s Tedx Talks called “A matter of laugh or death Frank King” at https://youtu.be/aBUXND5BD4M?list=PLeR38Z1hG6dEhcjkJX9ByGVp92dAFYg9L.

Frank King, Suicide Prevention Speaker, was a writer for The Tonight Show for 20 years, keynoter, and comedian for 39 years. His speaking is informed by a lifetime of depression and suicidality, coming close enough to suicide he can tell you what the barrel of his gun tastes like. He turned that dark journey of the soul into 13 TEDx Talks, and sharing insights with corporations and associations. If you’d like to talk with Frank about having him share his message at your company, book a free consultation at https://app.iclosed.io/e/speaker-accelerator/free-consultation.