The state Office of Mental Health today announced the launch of a pilot program aimed at increasing mental wellness among workers in the Capital Region’s construction industry. Developed by OMH’s Suicide Prevention Center of New York, the Building Hope Through Action program will focus on the construction industry, an industry with one of the highest suicide rates in the nation.

“Our statewide prevention efforts continue to save lives each year by connecting at-risk individuals and groups with the services and supports that can improve their mental well-being,” Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said. “The partnerships built through this effort will help reduce stigma in the construction industry and connect workers with resources to help during their time of need.”

Funded as part of a five-year, $4.8 million grant through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the broader initiative is aimed at decreasing stigma around mental health and increasing the use of resources to reduce suicide risk. The goal is to decrease suicides in this target population by 10 percent, while sustainably integrating mental wellness and suicide prevention into the construction trade’s organizational culture. 

The program was launched on Tuesday, Sept. 10, as New York observes World Suicide Prevention Day. The effort will focus on construction workers in Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga and Rensselaer counties.

“These construction industry organizations are to be commended for their leadership, building hope through concrete actions, and working to make sure health and safety extends beyond eliminating worksite accidents to include preventing suicide and mental wellness for workers,” Suicide Prevention Center Director Dr. Jay Carruthers said.  “Workplace wellness is crucial to overall health. Changing the culture of the workplace and ensuring employees feel their mental health is regularly supported are vital parts of addressing overall workplace wellbeing,”

Participating unions include Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 7, Laborers Local 157 and Local 190; Capital Region contractors partnering on the project include WM Schultz Construction Inc., Pike Construction Services, and Harrison & Burrowes Bridge Constructors Inc. The Associated General Contractors of Missouri and Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention will be providing technical assistance.

Men between the age of 25 and 64 have a suicide rate that is nearly three times the general population rate, according to state data. Likewise, the construction trade has the second highest suicide rates of any occupation, meaning there’s a clear need for prevention.

While there is no one solution to a complex problem like suicide, social connectedness is one of the most effective methods of prevention, according to a 2023 advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General. Feeling connected to others is important for both mental and physical health and helps reduce the risk of suicide.

Associated General Contractors of America’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Task Force Co-Chair Brandon Anderson said, “With statistics showing that suicide deaths in construction are six times greater than that of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s ‘fatal four’ [worksite accidents], we must act now to prevent more lives from being lost.” 

Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention Executive Director Sonya Bohmann said, “We are pleased to be joining this partnership to raise awareness, develop educational resources, and reduce stigma through action. Suicide in the construction industry is preventable and we must take steps to stop this needless loss of life.”