An Analysis of Suicides in the Construction Industry within the U.S.

The statistics have shown that the construction industry experiences high levels of fatalities every year. Although fatalities can be caused by factors such as slips and falls, failure to use equipment properly, or exposure to harmful chemicals, there are the non-work caused deaths that this research will focus on, such as suicides. The construction industry is a high stress-level filled environment due to a combination of risks, ever-changing projects, and deadlines that have to be met by a company for a decent reputation. Given such circumstances, it can be difficult for a company to focus its resources on the mental health of its employees bringing the concern of preventable suicides. The results of this study provide insights into the levels of suicides within the construction industry and related fields. The construction industry and related occupations held the highest rates of suicides compared to other industries. It would be economically beneficial to implement prevention programs similar to MATES in Construction to lower the rate and costs of suicides in the industry. The results of this study suggest that further research would be needed to quantify the savings that the US could have if a prevention program were put into place.