Mental Health Awareness Campaign Helps Workers Struggling with Self-Harm Risks

TARRYTOWN, NY—May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to reflect and take action. In the construction industry, this conversation is not just important, it is urgent.

For decades, our industry has led the way in improving physical safety. Today’s jobsites are safer than ever because we made safety a priority. But there is another risk we can’t see, one that doesn’t come with a warning sign or protective gear: mental health.

Construction workers face long hours, physical demands, job uncertainty, and time away from family. Add to that a culture that has historically valued toughness over vulnerability, and it becomes clear why so many struggle in silence. 

This is not just a national issue, it is local. In Westchester County, approximately 65 to 75 lives are lost to suicide each year, a sobering reminder that mental health challenges exist in every community, including our own workforce.

There is growing recognition that mental health must be treated with the same urgency as physical safety. Industry leaders, unions, and organizations are stepping up, launching peer support programs, awareness campaigns, and training initiatives aimed at breaking stigma and saving lives.

Just as we’ve transformed jobsite safety culture, we can do the same for mental health. That starts with:

  • Talking openly about mental health on jobsites 
  • Including 988 in safety briefings, posters, and materials 
  • Training supervisors and foremen to recognize warning signs 
  • Promoting peer support programs 
  • Partnering with organizations that provide mental health resources 

Mental health is not a personal issue, it is a workforce issue, a safety issue, and a leadership issue.

One of the most important tools available today is the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Anyone can call or text 988, anytime, to connect with trained counselors. It is free, confidential, and available 24/7, for those in crisis, those struggling, or those concerned about someone they care about. 

And yet, awareness is still not where it needs to be. At a recent community event, many people in the audience were unfamiliar with 988, despite it being available nationwide for three years. It was a powerful reminder that we cannot assume people know where to turn, we must keep sharing the message.

Just as we’ve changed the culture around physical safety, we can do the same for mental health. That starts with simple steps: talking openly, checking in with one another, and making sure everyone knows that help is available.

Because a truly safe job site is not just one where workers are protected from physical harm, it’s one where they know they are not alone.

If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org. “Three numbers can save a life: 988”.

 

Resources for Help and Support

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available:

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988, or visit: https://988lifeline.org
  • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP):
    https://afsp.org
  • National Center for Construction Education & Research
    (NCCER): https://www.nccer.org

Construction Industry Resources

  • CPWR (Center for Construction Research and Training):
    https://www.cpwr.com
  • Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741 or visit: https://www.crisistextline.org
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – https://www.nami.org

Editor’s Note: This article was curated and edited by Sharon Regan-Masciovecchio with industry reports.

Published: May 26, 2026.

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