In February, a LinkedIn post caught my eye: the 5th Annual Construction Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference in Portland, Oregon. Despite the heavy subject matter, I felt an immediate, personal pull to attend and registered that same day.
I went because I wanted to look beyond the headlines of what has clearly become an epidemic in our industry. While we are all familiar with the staggering statistics surrounding mental health, suicide and addiction, seeing them side-by-side is a sobering wake-up call.
In 2024, the construction industry lost 1,034 workers to occupational injuries. During that same period, 5,000 workers died by suicide and 11,300 died from drug-related overdoses. These are not just data points; they are our coworkers, friends, parents and children.
The atmosphere in Portland was remarkable. Nearly 600 people gathered with a singular focus: breaking the silence. Hearing from speakers who battle their own mental health or addiction challenges every day was nothing short of inspiring. Others shared the raw, emotional stories of loved ones lost to suicide. Their vulnerability spoke volumes, reminding us that while some struggles end in triumph and others in tragedy, the fight continues every single day.
The conference, hosted by United Suicide Survivors International, highlighted the incredible organizations dedicated to these unique industry challenges. At AWCI, we are proud to stand with the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention and Construction Safety Week, while promoting workplace wellness alongside experts like Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas.
One of my most significant takeaways was that words matter. Moving away from the phrase “committed suicide” isn’t about being politically correct; it’s about removing the stigma and shame that prevent people from seeking help.
We also dove into practical interventions, including the use of naloxone (the active ingredient in NARCAN®). Having this tool on-site can be the literal difference between life and death during an opioid emergency. I am incredibly proud that AWCI hosted a webinar on this critical issue this past April 16.
I have challenged myself, our AWCI team and the leadership of both AWCI and the Foundation: we must be leaders in this space. We have a duty to educate and assist our member companies in navigating mental health awareness, suicide prevention and addiction intervention.
The culture of construction is unique. It isn’t always easy to admit you need help—or to ask a coworker if they are okay. It will take time for our industry to evolve into a place where discussing mental health is as second nature as discussing hard hats, eye protection or fall arrest systems. But we are making progress.
One quote from the conference has stayed with me: “A life under construction is never beyond repair.”
AWCI will continue to invest—emotionally, educationally and financially—in these critical issues. This cause is far too important for us to sit on the sidelines.
Mike Stark, CAE, is the chief executive officer of the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry.
