CFMA Reacts to CDC Report With Education About Suicide Prevention

Statistics from the CDC shows that workers in construction and extraction have a 53.3% suicide rate, which is second only to workers in the farming, fishing, and forestry occupational group (84.5%). With 17 states taking part in the CDC’s National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), this data heightens the need to address suicide prevention and mental health promotion in the construction industry.

The Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) is taking a leading role in efforts to shatter the stigma surrounding mental illness and prevent suicide in construction. CFMA formed the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention to gather and disseminate key information and resources, share education and programming for CFMA’s 94 chapters across North America, and promote initiatives to support suicide prevention.

Stuart Binstock, CFMA president & CEO, further details, “At CFMA’s 2016 Annual Conference & Exhibition, we brought the topic of suicide prevention to an audience of our nearly 1,300 attendees by offering two general education sessions and presentations to chapter leaders, providing flash drives, and introducing our new online resource at www.cfma.org/suicideprevention. Efforts are also underway to encourage our industry partners to join the alliance with the ultimate goal of preventing death by suicide in the construction industry.”

“As a construction company controller, I understand the importance of protecting and supporting our most valuable asset—our human capital,” adds CFMA Chairman Ken Chiccotella. “In conjunction with our conference theme of Building It Forward, ensuring not only the physical well-being, but also the mental health of our workforce must be core to our business strategies and goals.”

CFMA Activity Makes a Difference

CFMA’s Valley of the Sun Chapter recently presented the inaugural Suicide Prevention Summit, a collaboration between construction and mental health professionals to discuss prevention of suicide for the construction industry. Designed for construction industry CEOs, CFOs, HR professionals, and safety and risk managers, the event provided a wealth of knowledge and resources to more than 100 industry professionals in the Phoenix area. CFMA’s Charlotte and Portland Chapters have similar events scheduled later this fall, and additional CFMA chapters are planning events for 2017.

The newly released Construction + Suicide Prevention publications by Cal Beyer, director of risk management at Lakeside Industries and executive committee member of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, and Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, CEO and co-founder of the Carson J. Spencer Foundation, mental health advocate, and survivor of her brother’s suicide, addresses why suicide prevention is imperative in the construction industry and provides 10 action steps companies can take to save lives.

Dr. Spencer-Thomas states, “Construction industry leaders are stepping forward and changing culture with a new vision around suicide prevention. CFMA has shown bold leadership in spearheading this shift in culture as a conduit in making suicide prevention a health and safety priority.” Additionally, the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention cites CFMA’s resources and website in support of the cause.