Construction Suicide Prevention Partnership

Suicide risk and mental health challenges are jobsite safety issues.

A crisis in Oregon and across the nation

Based on the most recent CDC data, workers in the construction industry face the second highest suicide rate of any industry in the U.S.—at over three times the national age-adjusted suicide rate. Experts attribute several factors to this disturbing trend, including the physical rigor of the job, financial instability caused by the work’s often seasonal nature, and a male-dominated workplace that has traditionally emphasized dealing with problems alone rather than asking for help.

Our country now loses more construction workers to suicide than to jobsite injuries or accidents.

In response, dozens of Oregon’s industry leaders, from construction firms to organized labor and insurance companies, have come together to prevent suicide and promote mental health with the same innovation and tenacity that the industry has brought to improving workplace safety.

A new initiative for Oregon

The Oregon Construction Industry Suicide Prevention Taskforce was founded in 2019, and has quickly grown to nearly 100 members. These members represent construction companies large and small, subcontractors, building trades and their unions, safety specialists, OSHA, SAIF, and healthcare partners. Since its founding, the Taskforce developed a detailed strategic plan of three Objectives and 15 specific Strategies to fulfill its mission:

Mission: To develop and implement a unified strategy for reducing suicide and promoting mental well-being in the construction industry.

With this mission, the Taskforce aims to become the go-to resource for construction industry stakeholders in Oregon to lower suicide rates and improve mental health among workers in the industry. It envisions the industry building a culture of mental wellness to match the culture of physical safety that the industry has worked so hard to create.

The Strategic Plan for suicide prevention in the Oregon construction industry

This Strategic Plan is the result of countless hours of discussion and collaboration among a wide range of stakeholders. It represents a common understanding of the urgency of this crisis, and the very real intention of small companies, large corporations, and government agency representatives to collectively build a stronger, safer future for construction workers across Oregon.

Contact Us

Max Margolis, Construction Suicide Prevention Coordinator – [email protected]

Construction QPR Liaison

Steven Frost, LEED AP BC+C, CHS, ASP, CSP – [email protected]

Education & Training Committee Chairs

Kristina Ewing, Wellness & Benefits Manager | Andersen Construction – [email protected]

Lisa Ransom, Director of Apprenticeship & Training | OR Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) – [email protected]

Innovations & Solutions Committee Chairs

Aimee Johnson, Program Analyst, Innovations, Suicide Prevention | U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs  – [email protected]

Kenny Herrera, Environmental Health & Safety Director | R&H Construction – [email protected]

Branding Marketing Committee Chairs

Judy Cushing, Founding CEO | Lines for Life – [email protected]

Natalie Cordova, Vice President | Marsh Risk & Insurance Services – [email protected]

Task Force & Partners

Bill Barr, Chair | Construction Industry Suicide Prevention Project – [email protected]