September 15, 2026
On a construction site, crews are trained to identify hazards, from unstable trenches and moving equipment to electrical dangers and fall risks. Yet one of the industry’s greatest risks is not always visible: suicide.
In 2021, men working in construction and extraction occupations died by suicide at more than twice the rate of working men overall, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
During Construction Suicide Prevention Week, Sept. 14-18, Phillips Infrastructure Corp. is using a familiar tool—the daily safety conversation—to help employees recognize when someone may be struggling and know how to respond.
“The construction industry has not always talked openly about mental health,” says Maura Hancock, Manager of Corporate Safety at Phillips. “We need to pay attention to the people around us and check in when something doesn’t seem right.”
Long hours, extended travel, physically demanding work, and time away from family can strain construction workers. The industry’s traditional “tough it out” mentality can also make it harder for workers to admit when they need help.
Hancock brought Construction Suicide Prevention Week to Phillips in 2024 after researching mental health and suicide within the industry. For her, the issue is personal. She has known classmates and acquaintances who died by suicide, some with few outward signs of trouble that others recognized.
“Often, when someone dies by suicide, the people around them are shocked because they never realized that person was struggling,” she says. “Someone on my jobsite, even the person standing next to me, could be going through something, and I might have no idea.”
That is why suicide prevention cannot be limited to a hotline number in an employee handbook. Phillips is making it part of the company’s broader approach to workplace safety, giving employees practical guidance to recognize warning signs, begin difficult conversations, and connect coworkers with help.
This year’s theme for Construction Suicide Prevention Week is “Building on Progress.” It reflects the industry’s growing willingness to talk about mental health while recognizing how much work remains.
At Phillips, those conversations will take place through daily toolbox talks written by Hancock and shared during regular morning safety meetings. Some of the discussions will use real-life case studies to help employees consider how a mental health crisis might affect someone on their own jobsite.
Related materials also encourage workers to pay attention to possible warning signs. Someone who is struggling may become withdrawn, start arriving late or missing work, take unusual risks, experience more safety incidents, or simply seem unlike themselves. Others may talk about feeling trapped, becoming a burden, or believing that people would be better off without them.
Knowing what to say in that moment can be difficult. The toolbox talks emphasize that employees do not need special expertise or perfect words. They can start by asking whether the person is OK, listening without judgment, and helping connect them with support.
“Sometimes, it’s as simple as letting someone know they are not alone and reminding them that resources are available,” Hancock says.
A conversation can open the door, but employees also need a clear path to professional support. At Phillips, that support includes an Employee Assistance Program available to employees and members of their households, regardless of whether they are enrolled in the company’s benefits.
Through the program, callers can receive confidential help and connect with counseling or resources for mental health and substance use concerns.
Hancock has already seen signs that the company’s message is reaching people. Since Phillips began participating in Construction Suicide Prevention Week in 2024, the company has seen an increase in employees using its Employee Assistance Program. Supervisors and safety professionals have also started contacting Hancock for guidance when they are concerned about someone on their team.
To her, that growing willingness represents meaningful progress, not a finish line.
“We should be proud of the progress we’ve made, but our work isn’t done,” Hancock says. “We still need to prioritize mental health every day.”
If you or someone you know needs immediate emotional support, call or text 988 or chat through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also text HELLO to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line. Both services offer free, confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.