(Reprinted with permission from Public News Service, Sept. 7, 2025)

National Suicide Prevention Awareness Week is underway, and in Minnesota, the construction trades are on a mission to change the mindset of workers and project leaders.

A pair of industry groups have formed the Minnesota Construction Mental Health Alliance.

Organizers say the trades still tend to be male dominated with a macho feel.

Progress has been made in improving physical safety on job sites, but Joel Smith (pictured), president/business manager of the Laborers’ International Union of North America in Minnesota and North Dakota, said he wants more conversation about confronting the “stressors” workers often wrestle with.

“It’s the demand of the jobs,” said Smith. “It’s the long time away from family, long hours, and sometimes always not knowing when the next job is.”

He said in the upper Midwest, cold weather disrupting workflows is another form of stress.

The Alliance cites data showing construction as having the second highest suicide rate behind farming. It also notes a construction worker is four to five times more likely to die of suicide than of a workplace-related accident.

Tim Worke, CEO of the Associated General Contractors of Minnesota, said this awareness isn’t just for workers and connecting them to resources.

He said they’re also engaging with project owners, calling on them to set a tone that transforms the culture within the trades. He said these officials play a big role in determining workloads and schedules.

“That means they will tell you how many days you have to complete the work,” said Worke. “This project is going to be all night work. This project is going to be work under traffic conditions.”

He said laying out reasonable working conditions and expectations makes it easier for contractors, so they don’t compromise their values when feeling pressure to get hired for a project.

To aid this prevention effort, the Minnesota Legislature has set aside $500,000 for both this year and next.

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