After a two-year decline, the number of Americans who committed suicide rose to 47,646 in 2021, the latest year for which data was available. On-site construction workers are the second-highest at-risk occupational group for suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In response to this concerning data, AEC firms and industry groups are stepping up their suicide prevention measures.
In late October 2022, the general contractor Balfour Beatty launched an innovative online tool for its employees and industry partners that provides streamlined access to potentially lifesaving mental health resources.
The company’s suicide prevention website, which is being displayed via QR code on jobsite signage across the U.S., offers easy access—in English and Spanish—to the newly rebranded 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and industry resources from the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP).
The site was also designed to address the unique needs of individuals who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. Its supportive elements are mobile- and desktop-friendly, are easy to navigate with minimal actions needed to access resources, and are presented in a warm color palette that is meant to positively regulate a worker’s mental health response.
Balfour Beatty was unable at press time to provide how many visits its website had received since its launch.
Eric Yates, the firm’s Environmental Health and Safety Manager in the Carolinas, said the hotlines were getting the most attention, via the website, from Balfour Beatty’s field teams and trade partners.
Related Stories
Giants 400 | Dec 2, 2020
2020 University Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the higher education sector
Gensler, AECOM, and Turner Construction top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest university sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2020 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Dec 2, 2020
2020 Multifamily Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. multifamily building sector
Clark Group, Humphreys & Partners Architects, and Kimley-Horn head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest multifamily building sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2020 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Dec 2, 2020
2020 Airport Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. airport facilities sector
AECOM, Hensel Phelps, and PGAL top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest airport sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2020 Giants 400 Report.
Contractors | Dec 1, 2020
Abbott Construction to join the STO Building Group
Merger will expand both firms’ geographic reach and services.
Giants 400 | Nov 29, 2020
Top 85 Construction Management + Project Management Firms for 2020
Jacobs, CBRE, VCC, and JLL top the rankings of the nation's largest construction management (as agent) and program/project management firms for nonresidential and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2020 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Nov 29, 2020
Top 135 Contractors for 2020
Turner, Whiting-Turner, and STO Building Group head the rankings of the nation's largest general contractors, CM at risk firms, and design-builders for nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2020 Giants 400 Report.
Architects | Nov 24, 2020
AEC Leaders share lessons from past downturns
Positions of passivity and cost-cutting run counter to the key lessons from AEC leaders who successfully navigated their firms through past market downturns.
Smart Buildings | Nov 20, 2020
The Weekly show: SPIRE smart building rating system, and pickleball court design tips
The November 19 episode of BD+C's The Weekly is available for viewing on demand.
Government Buildings | Nov 13, 2020
Tax shortfalls nip government projects in the bud
Federal contracts are proceeding, but states and cities are delaying, deferring, and looking for private investment.
AEC Tech | Nov 12, 2020
The Weekly show: Nvidia's Omniverse, AI for construction scheduling, COVID-19 signage
BD+C editors speak with experts from ALICE Technologies, Build Group, Hastings Architecture, Nvidia, and Woods Bagot on the November 12 episode of "The Weekly." The episode is available for viewing on demand.