Weekly Safety Training Topic No. 2429
Suicide prevention
Suicide rates are increasing in the United States, averaging one every 12 minutes. We all need to know the signs and resources to combat this crisis.
The CDC ranked Construction as the industry with the highest male suicide rates.
- 20% of all male suicides were in construction.
- According to new research by Florida State University, 40% of all construction workers have thought about suicide at some point in their career.
Warning signs of suicide
Talking about:
- Wanting to die.
- Having guilt or shame.
- Being a burden to others.
Changing behavior, such as:
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Withdrawing from friends, saying goodbye, giving away important items or making a will.
- Taking dangerous risks such as driving extremely fast.
- Extreme mood swings.
- Using drugs or alcohol more often or in an abusive manner.
- Planning or researching ways to die.
If these warning signs apply to you or someone you know, get help as soon as possible, particularly if the behavior is new or has increased recently. We all go through tough times, it’s normal and it’s necessary at times to get assistance to prevent reoccurrence and catastrophic outcomes.
Resources
Download and print this Weekly Safety Training Topic with sign-in sheet. For the Spanish version, click here.
The information and recommendations contained in this “Weekly safety training topic” have been compiled from various sources believed to be reliable and represent the best current opinion on the subject. The Builders, a chapter of the AGC, in no way guarantees, insures or warrants the absolute correctness or sufficiency of any information contained within. The Builders expressly disclaims all liability and assumes no responsibility therewith. For more information, please call 816.595.4158.