The industry’s traditional commitment to looking out for one another is becoming an important tool in addressing mental health. “We have seen a definitive shift in our approach to the mental health and well-being of our members. We treat each other differently, we talk differently, we take responsibility for one another,” Mr. Marchese said.

Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health Commissioner Michael Orth sees the same cultural shift as an important part of suicide prevention. For generations, construction safety has focused primarily on physical hazards such as falls, machinery, electrical hazards and protective equipment. Today, Mr. Orth said, worker safety must also include mental health, substance use and suicide prevention.

Construction workers can face a unique combination of pressures, including physically demanding and sometimes dangerous work, chronic pain and injuries, irregular schedules, seasonal employment, financial pressures, time away from family and concerns about job security. Changing the culture requires more than putting a phone number on a poster, Mr. Orth said. Mental health and suicide prevention should become part of everyday safety practices through orientation, toolbox talks, supervisor training, employee assistance programs, union support and ongoing education.

Recognizing When Something Has Changed

One of the most important roles a coworker can play is simply paying attention. Warning signs are not always obvious. A worker who is normally engaged may suddenly become withdrawn, irritable or unusually quiet. Someone may begin missing work, arriving late, having difficulty concentrating, taking greater risks or simply not seem like themselves.

Other warning signs can include increased alcohol or substance use, changes in sleep, significant anxiety or agitation, feelings of hopelessness, talking about being a burden to others, giving away possessions, saying that others would be better off without them, or talking about death or suicide. The important point is not to ignore a change that causes concern. A coworker does not need to be a mental health professional to reach out. A simple conversation can be the first step. For someone who is concerned about a coworker, asking, “I’ve noticed you haven’t seemed like yourself lately. Are you doing okay?” can open the door to a conversation. And if there is concern that someone may be thinking about suicide, it is appropriate to ask directly. Asking someone whether they are thinking about suicide does not put the idea into their head. It can instead provide an opportunity for an honest conversation and help connect the person with support.

Hope Lives Brings the Message to the Jobsite

The Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund’s Hope Lives campaign is helping keep that conversation visible within the construction industry. Now entering its sixth year, Hope Lives focuses on consistent messaging and making access to resources as seamless as possible. A single QR code on Hope Lives materials provides members with quick access to information and resources.

The campaign has also made suicide prevention visible in the everyday construction environment, including 988 and Hope Lives stickers on hardhats and Hope Lives merchandise. “Hope Lives has brought mental health in the construction industry front and center and it is undoubtedly one of my proudest moments in this union,” Mr. Marchese said. The campaign reflects a broader change in the way the industry views mental health. Rather than treating mental health as something separate from safety, unions and contractors are increasingly incorporating it into the same culture of responsibility that has long been part of construction.

Don’t Walk By It

Mr. Orth believes that message needs to continue. “We want workers to look out for one another psychologically just as they look out for one another physically,” he said. That can mean noticing a change, asking a question, listening without judgment and helping someone connect with appropriate support. It can also mean following up with a coworker after the initial conversation.

Leadership is important as well. When respected leaders, supervisors, union representatives and industry professionals talk openly about mental health, it gives workers permission to do the same. Mr. Orth’s message to the construction industry is straightforward: “Safety in the construction industry has always meant looking out for one another. That same commitment must extend to mental health and suicide prevention. We need to create a culture where noticing when someone is struggling, asking how they are doing, and helping them connect to support is as much a part of workplace safety as preventing a physical injury. Sometimes a simple conversation can make an extraordinary difference—and it can save a life.”

Help Is Available

A worker does not have to wait until reaching a crisis point to ask for help. A person can talk with someone they trust, including a family member, friend, coworker, union representative, employee assistance program, healthcare provider or counselor. And there is another resource available at any time.

Call or text 988

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Anyone experiencing emotional distress, depression, anxiety, substance use concerns, thoughts of suicide or simply feeling overwhelmed can call or text 988. You can also contact 988 if you are concerned about someone else and need guidance about what to do.

A trained crisis counselor will listen, provide support, assess safety and help connect callers with appropriate resources. You do not have to be on the verge of suicide to contact 988, and you do not have to know exactly what kind of help you need before reaching out.

Call or text: 988; Online: 988lifeline.org