BEYOND FALLS- SUICIDE AND RISK IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

By: Danielle Andrus

Someone who is contemplating suicide may take unnecessary risks or be distracted.

That construction is a dangerous occupation is well established. We accept that this type of work is inherently dangerous and do our best to mitigate the risks that workers face. However, a less openly talked-about danger is the troubling frequency with which construction workers take their lives.

The risk isn’t just to the depressed or suicidal worker. Someone who is contemplating suicide may take unnecessary risks or may be distracted, putting other workers in danger.  Read more...

MOBILE MENTAL HEALTH

By: Danielle Andrus

Several mobile apps exist to help workers track their mental and physical health and identify patterns that could help them understand their moods better.

Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas warned that some are more helpful than others, but what’s most important is if it works for the individual. “Technology moves incredibly fast and science moves incredibly slow,” she noted. Here are some apps recommended by Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas and ManTherapy.org, a multi-agency suicide prevention campaign targeting working-age men. Each of these apps are available for Apple and Android devices. Read more...

A RISKY BUSINESS—EXAMINING SUICIDE IN CONSTRUCTION

By: Danielle Andrus

One of your workers shows up on the jobsite one day and asks his buddy if he wants his boots. He gives his tool belt to another coworker. Two days later, his family calls to say your worker took his life and ask if there had been any warning signs of suicide.

Giving away possessions is just one of the warning signs that a person is seriously contemplating suicide, according to Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, a clinical psychologist and speaker on suicide prevention. Extreme mood swings, increased use of drugs or alcohol and talking about wanting to die or acquiring the means to do so are also signs that someone is struggling.

Suicide is not just a problem for the construction industry. It’s the leading cause of death in the United States, and suicide rates have increased in almost every state, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Colorado is among the states with the biggest increase in suicide rates. Between 1996 and 2016, the suicide rate in our state increased over 34%, compared to the national average of 25.4%.  Read more...