Boosting peer-to-peer support is critical in reducing the construction industry’s high suicide rate, said mental health advocates at the Construction Working Minds Summit, held May 17-18 in Denver. Around 200 attendees exchanged strategies to foster psychological safety at jobsites, similar to how the industry has spent decades improving physical safety.
“We view this as a safety issue, and we’ve completely changed our culture,” said Jon Kinning, COO of RK Industries. In addition to prevention training and toolbox talks, RK implemented a leave-of-absence policy that includes mental health and aligned its employee assistance program with mental health providers so that all are in network. As a result, 20 suicides have been averted, he said.