American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Reaches Over 188,000 Construction Workers with Hard Hat Courage Initiative

National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and Construction Suicide Prevention Week join effort to expand industry access to life-saving suicide prevention and mental health resources 

NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) today announced that its Hard Hat Courage initiative has reached more than 188,000 craft and construction industry professionals with its suicide prevention education and awareness campaign since May 2025, including over 165,000 who participated during Construction Suicide Prevention Week (Sept. 8-12, 2025). To expand access to its resources and programs, AFSP has established new or expanded partnerships with construction industry organizations, including the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), the leading provider of construction education for industry and career and technical education programs, Construction Suicide Prevention Week, a Kansas City-based nonprofit founded to raise awareness about mental health issues and suicide prevention and to provide support within the construction industry, and APM, a building construction and maintenance solutions provider delivering world-class craft professionals to jobsites.

Hard Hat Courage, an initiative launched by AFSP and Bechtel, and supported by a coalition of leading construction organizations, recently launched 15 new construction-specific suicide prevention resources along with HardHatCourage.com, aiming to save lives by making mental health as much of a priority as physical safety on and off jobsites. Since the site's Aug. 19 launch, there have been over 360 downloads of the new suicide prevention resources.

"Confronting suicide in the construction community through this work is one of AFSP's strategic priorities because of its high rates of suicide relative to other industries," said Robert Gebbia, AFSP CEO. "Together, every organization in our Hard Hat Courage initiative coalition will add to the impact, equipping even more of the construction workforce with the tools to practice self-care and support each other and helping construction companies to prevent and address suicide in their industry."

The construction industry has the second highest rate of suicide in the United States at 53.3 per 100,000 workers according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). A sense of connection is a protective factor against suicide, which is why Hard Hat Courage emphasizes the power of community on and off the jobsite, providing educational resources, workplace tools, and nationwide community events through AFSP's 73 Chapters and its construction partnerships.

Through its newly announced partnership with NCCER, AFSP's Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention in the Construction Industry is now available through NCCER's learning management system. In 2024, more than 330,000 learners from across the construction workforce gained skills to advance their careers and strengthen their communities through NCCER programs.

"The construction industry has a long tradition of looking out for one another, and it has become clear that the responsibility of supporting your fellow crew member is more important than ever," said Boyd Worsham, NCCER President and CEO. "Our mission has always been to provide training that allows craft professionals to succeed in life-changing careers. Partnering with AFSP extends that mission. We want to give craft professionals the tools to care for themselves and each other, so they can build safe, rewarding careers."

With its growing network of industry partnerships, Hard Hat Courage is positioned to scale its impact and broaden its reach in the construction community, aiming to provide education to 500,000 craft professionals in the U.S. over the next five years. Earlier this year, AFSP and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) announced a partnership to deliver specialized suicide prevention programming at AEM industry trade shows and provide regular virtual training sessions for the construction workforce. AFSP will also bring its suicide prevention expertise and resources to The Utility Expo, North America's largest trade show for utility professionals and construction contractors, being held October 7-9, 2025.

AFSP has also expanded its sponsorship of Construction Suicide Prevention Week through a formal partnership with the non-profit organization of the same name, which launched the awareness week in 2020. Construction Suicide Prevention Week aims to reduce the rate of suicide in the construction industry through education, advocacy and support initiatives. During the 2025 Construction Suicide Prevention Week, AFSP and the coalition of Hard Hat Courage CEO Advisory Council members and partners:

• Hosted stand-downs for a moment of silence across 1,222 jobsites to honor lives lost to suicide, with more than 165,000 craft and industry professionals participating.
• Rolled out the new Hard Hat Courage resources, including Talk Saves Lives: Construction and the first dozen in a planned series of more than 50 Toolbox Talks to be released this year.
• Provided AFSP training for 92 employees to become Talk Saves Lives: Construction facilitators within their organizations and presented three virtual sessions that were free and open to the public, attracting over 100 participants. Since May 2025, 1,300 craft and construction industry professionals have participated in a Talk Saves Lives: Construction program.

The Hard Hat Courage initiative coalition includes CEO Advisory Council firms —Bechtel, Clark Construction, DEWALT, DPR Construction, Fluor, Kiewit, North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU), Skanska, and Turner —as well as organizations that are part of AFSP's newly expanded industry partnerships. In addition to serving on the CEO Advisory Council, Clark Construction has joined the group of industry partners being trained by AFSP to facilitate its Talk Saves Lives: Construction educational program within their organizations.

To access resources and learn more about this initiative, visit HardHatCourage.com.

About Hard Hat Courage

Hard Hat Courage was founded in partnership by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the nation's leading organization dedicated to suicide prevention, and Bechtel, a trusted global engineering, construction, and project management partner. Rooted in AFSP's evidence-informed prevention strategies Bechtel's decades of global experience delivering iconic projects, Hard Hat Courage was built to confront the high rates of suicide in the construction community and evolve the industry to one that prioritizes mental health alongside physical safety. Engineered to scale, the cross-industry initiative will arm companies of all sizes with construction-specific mental health and suicide prevention resources and education. Access resources and learn more about Hard Hat Courage at HardHatCourage.com.

About American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide, including those who have experienced a loss. AFSP creates a culture that's smart about mental health through public education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, with its Policy and Advocacy Office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico, with programs and events nationwide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and TikTok.

CEO Advisory Council Member Perspectives

Brendan Bechtel, Bechtel Chairman & CEO: "In construction, we face some of the world's toughest challenges, but none more urgent or personal than protecting the mental health of our people. This isn't a problem with a quick fix. It takes sustained leadership, courageous conversations, and real, practical support. Construction Suicide Prevention Week is a reminder that we are not powerless. We have a responsibility to lead with care and build a culture where no one struggles alone. Thank you to our CEO Advisory Council partners and the thousands across our industry who are driving this effort forward with focus and determination."

George Pfeffer, Leadership Team Member and CEO, DPR Construction: "Suicide Prevention Month reminds us of the importance of supporting one another in meaningful ways. Through our employee resources, benefits, and new opportunities offered in partnership with AFSP, we are creating space for connection and reinforcing that help is always within reach. No one should have to face life's challenges alone." 

Rick Lanoha, President and CEO, Kiewit Corporation: "Addressing mental health and suicide prevention in our industry has never been more important. It's why Kiewit is so committed to bringing more awareness, breaking down stigmas and providing strong resources to help our people and their families get the help they need. We're proud to be a key partner in the CEO Advisory Council, active sponsors and participants in Construction Suicide Prevention Week and strong supporters of Hard Hat Courage. These efforts and more are having an impact and building momentum to put mental health front and center. We're getting people's attention in the field, in the office and at home – and every success we see is an important step forward."

Sean McGarvey, President, North America's Building Trades Unions: "In our line of work, safety has always come first, and that means mental health too. At NABTU, we're prioritizing mental health with the same urgency as physical safety. With CPWR, AFSP, and our partners in labor and management, we're understanding what about our industry contributes to suicides, tearing down the walls that keep people silent, and making sure resources are in every worker's hands. Suicide prevention takes all of us, and we're proving that looking out for each other is just as important as the job - because everybody deserves to go home safe in body and mind." 

Don Allan Jr., President and CEO, Stanley Black & Decker: "Safety is a cornerstone of the DEWALT brand, guiding our commitment to protecting and empowering professional tradespeople. Today, we recognize that true safety in the construction industry means caring for every aspect of a tradesperson's well-being. Suicide prevention is a vital part of this holistic approach. By working alongside our partners to spread awareness and investing in mental health initiatives, we are dedicated to creating environments where skilled workers feel supported. We honor our legacy of safety by building a safer, stronger future for all in the trades - together."

Peter Davoren, Turner Construction Company, Chairman & CEO: "The momentum behind this effort reflects something powerful and deeply caring: an industry coming together to look out for one another. Across jobsites and offices, we are embracing mental health and wellbeing as a core part of our safety culture. The tools we are sharing and the conversations we are having are helping everyone in our industry feel supported, connected, and never alone. At its heart, this is about saving lives and ensuring that everyone feels respected and is treated with dignity."

AFSP Partner Perspectives

Megan Tanel, Association of Equipment Manufacturers President and CEO: "At AEM, we believe protecting our mental health is just as important as protecting our physical health. Through our partnership with AFSP and the Hard Hat Courage initiative, we're proud to bring suicide prevention education to the forefront of our industry—whether on the jobsite, at our trade shows, or in our training programs. Together, we're building a culture where seeking help is seen as strength and every life saved is a testament to the power of community."

Jake Locklear, APM President & CEO: "At APM, safety means more than hard hats and harnesses—it also means caring for mental health. Suicide prevention is one of the most urgent challenges in our industry, and we have a responsibility to act."

Angela Crawford, CSPW Executive Director: "Our goal with Construction Suicide Prevention Week is to be the spark that lights a fire or the bridge that helps folks in the industry connect with the incredible work others are doing in this space, like AFSP. Because of the toughness culture in the construction industry, many workers don't even realize there's a problem because mental health isn't something that has traditionally been discussed openly. We want to change that and get workers more comfortable acknowledging when something is off or being the pillar their colleagues can lean on when things are difficult. Then we want to point workers toward resources and ways to get help."

SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention