With the epidemic of suicide growing in the construction industry, asphalt professionals can step up and protect their co-workers from the danger of untreated anxiety; depression; financial, job, or relationship pressures; substance misuse; or other stressors. Your crewmember or safety partner could be in distress that you’d never know about—unless you ask.
Experts at CPWR teach this mantra: Reach out. Respond. Connect.
- Reach outmeans be direct. Just ask your co-worker if he or she is thinking of self-harm.
- Respond means to listen without judgment.
- Connect means to let your colleague know you care too much for his or her well-being to keep their distress a secret and you’re going to get help for them. Bring the company safety director into the conversation or pick up the phone and call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You could also text HELLO to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
Please remember: Talking about suicide does not put the idea in someone’s head. That is a myth we can dispel right here in this toolbox talk. Your reaching out gives them permission to talk about their distress and they are usually relieved.
The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP) has many tools, resources, and information your company can use at https://preventconstructionsuicide.com/index.php