Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is raising awareness, spreading hope, and sharing life-saving information during the month of September. Suicide Prevention Awareness Month aims to shift public perception about this subject.
NAMI supports the Together for Mental Health campaign to “encourage people to bring their voices together and advocate for better mental health care, including an effective crisis response system.” According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 6,062 people (aged 15-24) died by suicide, making it the third highest cause of death in that age group.
Construction Industry Impact
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the suicide rate for men in the construction industry is 45.3 per 100,000 workers. For comparison, the average male suicide rate across all industries is 27.4 per 100,000 workers.
Workwear Guru, a website that provides reviews, comparison articles, and sizing tutorials for workwear, compiled a report about the higher suicide rate amongst men in the construction industry. Construction workers have an increased risk of suicide if they have “…lower skilled labor, lower education, lower socioeconomic status…” including if they work in a toxic environment that lacks job stability.
Key Facts
- Although more women attempt suicide, men make up 79% of suicide victims in America
- Nearly half of suicide victims had a diagnosed mental health condition but nearly all experienced mental health disorder symptoms.
Crisis Resources
Below are free resources if you or a loved one are struggling with mental health issues or suicidal thoughts:
- Call or text the Suicide and Crisis Hotline @988.
- Chat with a trained counselor at 988lifeline.org.
- Text NAMI to 741-741 to chat with a trained crisis counselor.
- For more information and support, contact the NAMI Helpline.