Participate in a Standdown and Possibly Save a Life

Construction Suicide Prevention Week is Sept. 4-8

In 2020, a mission-driven group of volunteers from across the construction industry came together with the goal of saving lives. They collaborated to launch the inaugural Suicide Prevention Week for the industry — a week dedicated to raising awareness about the higherthan-average number of suicides in the construction industry, and to providing resources to help prevent those deaths.

Every year, during September — National Suicide Prevention Month — the construction industry dedicates a week to raising awareness about the unique challenges workers face in construction that lead to suicide and what we can do to prevent it. Together, we can save lives.

What is a stand down at work?

The KCHBA is a sponsor of Construction Suicide Prevention Week and encourages every member company to find a way during this week to break down barriers and stigmas about mental health.

A safety stand down is a voluntary event for employers to talk directly to employees about safety. Any workplace can hold a stand down by taking a break to focus on a topic, which could be anything from fall hazards to mental health, to reinforce the importance of safety.

Anyone who wants to encourage safe and healthy employees can participate in a stand-down. In past years, participants included commercial construction companies of all sizes, residential construction contractors, suband independent contractors, highway construction companies, general industry employers, the U.S. Military, other government participants, unions, employer’s trade associations, institutes, employee interest organizations and safety equipment manufacturers.

How to Conduct a Safety Stand Down

Companies can conduct a safety stand-down by taking a break to have a toolbox talk, watch a webinar or bring in a speaker to talk about mental health. Managers are encouraged to plan a stand-down that works best for their workplace.

If you’d like a template for conducting a safety standdown, contact Kari@kchba.org for an example.

Other Ways to Participate

Every week in August, live webinars will be available for those interested in learning more about mental health and suicide prevention. Topics include:

• Aug. 10: Three Ways to Support Mental Health in the Construction Industry

• Aug. 17: How to Start (and Continue!) a Conversation About Mental Health: Talk Saves Lives

• Aug. 24: The Impact of Suicide in Construction: Sharing Stories of Hope and Healing

• Aug. 31: Risk Factors to Know and Support Employers Can Provide to Mitigate Them

Contact Kari@kchba.org to register to attend one of these webinars or visit contructionsuicideprevention. com/webinars.

Support the Cause Through Sponsorship

The Construction Suicide Prevention Week initiative provides free resources to people in and around the construction industry to help them start conversations, hold stand-down events and share information with colleagues who may be struggling. Your sponsorship support helps us put more tools in the hands of the people who build our communities.

A company that invests $500 as a Supporting Sponsor will receive logo recognition on the designated sponsor page of the website: www.constructionsuicideprevention.com. These sponsors will receive a badge they may display on social media or their website.

Register Your Company’s Participation

Constructionsuicideprevention.org provides resources to plan activities with your workers during Suicide Prevention Week and let us know how you participated. Participating companies will receive an OSHA-recognized, industry-endorsed certificate of participation.