This week is National Suicide Prevention Week, an annual observance focused on reducing suicide in our communities through spreading awareness of the suicide epidemic and sharing knowledge of the suicide warning signs to look out for in our friends, family and coworkers.
Coinciding with the national campaign, our industry also observes Construction Suicide Prevention Week, aimed at “raising awareness about the unique challenges workers face in construction, how it can lead to suicide, and what we can do to prevent it.”
Earlier this week, Pinkard Field Safety Manager Dave Ruddy was interviewed by CBS News Colorado about the efforts of Pinkard and other members of the Association of General Contractors in addressing the mental health crisis plaguing jobsites across America. Among other topics, he talks about why mental health is such a big problem in construction and the importance of breaking the stigma of asking for help.
Watch the video below. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, you can call 988, the Crisis Lifeline.