"We firmly believe that mental health and suicide prevention should be at the forefront of our industry's priorities," says Skip Parry, our Construction Risk Manager. "The staggering statistic that 39 out of 100,000 construction workers take their own lives by suicide is a sobering reality we cannot ignore."
We're taking a proactive stance in addressing the critical issue of suicide in the construction industry through our commitment to mental health initiatives like our Focus 4+1, which incorporates mental health as the +1 to OSHA's four most common causes of occupational injuries and fatalities.
Hike for Hope Sheds Light on a Troubling Trend
The construction industry, known for its demanding physical and mental requirements, has long grappled with the challenge of suicide among its workforces. We cannot ignore this issue and prioritize the mental health of our team through ongoing training, workshops, and daily integration.
In January, our team attended a suicide awareness workshop hosted by the New York State Office of General Services (NYOGS) in cooperation with the Associated General Contractors of New York (AGCNY), and the NYS Office Of Mental Health - Suicide Prevention Center. The workshop provided valuable insights and resources to help construction firms, their people and their families navigate complex mental health challenges - equipping them with the knowledge and tools to address this pressing concern. The main topics covered:
Mental Health
What is the current perception of Mental Health Support at your workplace?
To address the underlying causes of mental health issues and suicide prevention, we must address the following questions. How is mental health viewed in your culture? When are you discussing health, how often is mental health mentioned?
Suicide Prevention
Construction has the highest numbers and rate of suicides. More construction workers die by suicide each year than all other workplace related fatalities combined. Work related stress can lead to substance abuse from things like family separation, seasonal layoffs, performance pressure, and chronic pain can all contribute to substance misuse.
Leading by Example in the Hike for Hope
Inspired by the workshop and our continued commitment to increasing awareness concerning the importance of mental health in the construction industry, we took our involvement a step further by making a team donation, which The Wesson Group matched, in addition to sponsoring t-shirts for the Hike For Hope event, an annual fundraiser organized by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
"As a team, we donated $769, which The Wesson Group matched - contributing $1,538 to the Hike For Hope Event, making us the 6th largest fundraising team out of 42 participants. As a whole, the event raised $100,893 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention! This is a fitting testament to our continued focus on mental health and suicide prevention initiatives within our team," said Ashley Delaney, Director of Human Resources.
Fostering a Culture of Caring
Participating in the Hike for Hope is another step towards breaking the stigma around mental health. Our Focus 4+1 program emphasizes the importance of mental health and suicide prevention and is just the beginning. We are helping to lead the way for the entire construction industry by setting an example and encouraging others to create the same or similar programs.
“Thank you to The Wesson Group, for your generous support for the Hike For Hope. It was an incredible success due to organizations like yours supporting the event. There were well over 500 in attendance at Bear Mountain.” expressed Rob Labbe Jr., Vice President of Risk Engineering Services for American Global.
"As a construction company, we have a unique opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of our employees and the broader community. By supporting initiatives like Hike For Hope, we are raising awareness and providing resources to those struggling with mental health challenges." Skip states.
Call to Action for the Construction Industry
By embracing a culture of empathy, vulnerability, and support, the construction industry can redefine what it means to be strong. No one should feel alone in their struggles, and we challenge you to prioritize mental health for your teams just as much as physical health.
It is time to break the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide to support our teams and achieve better results. Please join us in this critical industry initiative.
Resources:
To learn more about our community involvement, check out our community page.
Interested in joining our team? Check out our open positions.
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