A safer construction industry also depends on workers looking out for one another.
During National Suicide Prevention Month this September, the Canadian Construction Safety Council (CCSC) has launched an industry-wide campaign focused on suicide prevention across Canada’s construction sector.
Called “Looking Out For Each Other,” the campaign is designed to raise awareness, reduce stigma and encourage construction workers, supervisors and leaders to recognize mental health as an essential part of workplace safety.
The CCSC, which brings together 12 of Canada’s major general contractors, is encouraging employers, trade partners, unions, industry associations and workers to participate. According to a release, the initiative calls on organizations to share practical tools, make support services easier to find and create opportunities for open discussions both on jobsites and in office environments.
The council has identified four actions that organizations can take as part of the campaign:
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Organize a health and safety moment with teams on worksites and in offices and review the Suicide Prevention Toolbox Talk;
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Share the Mental Health Continuum Model (MHCM) from Canada.ca to help people better understand their mental well-being and identify actions they can take;
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Ensure support resources are visible and easy to access; and
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Demonstrate behaviours that promote dialogue, openness and connection.
The CCSC says the construction industry is increasingly recognizing mental health and suicide prevention as critical elements of occupational health and safety.
The council also points to a range of factors that can contribute to substance-use issues and mental health challenges, including physical pain, chronic stress, financial insecurity and isolation.
“The construction industry has made major progress in how it manages physical safety,” the release states, emphasizing the need to apply the same level of urgency, consistency and leadership to mental health.
It also stresses that workers may be dealing with pressures that are not immediately apparent on the jobsite, noting that behind every hard hat is a person whose struggles may remain unseen.
Need help now?
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8, the Suicide Crisis Helpline, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in English and French across Canada.
