Bechtel pledges $7m to help prevent construction worker suicides

The US-based construction firm has forged a new partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) that it said would provide resources and programming to 500,000 US construction workers.

It is the largest-ever pledge that the Foundation has received and the single largest donation ever made by the Bechtel Group Foundation.

The construction industry in the USA has one of the highest suicide rates of any profession of the USA, with the number of suicide deaths nearly five times higher than the number of lives lost in jobsite safety incidents, according to official figures.

It reflects a pattern that is similar in countries across the world.

Bechtel said it would use its industry knowledge and reach in combination with AFSP’s expertise in research, education, effective prevention strategies and its national network of local chapters as part of the partnership.

The construction firm also called on others in the sector to participate.

Bechtel CEO Brendan Bechtel said, “We know we cannot meet this challenge alone. Real change will take all of us. We want to build an industry-wide effort, and we are actively encouraging others in construction to join us.”

Robert Gebbia, CEO of AFSP said, “The partnership with Bechtel is the first of its kind for AFSP, and we are thrilled to be collaborating with an industry leader that is focused on improving the mental health of the construction industry as a whole.”

Sean McGarvey, president of North America’s Building Trades Unions , added, “All of us who work in construction have seen gains in physical safety that were once unimaginable, become the standard for success. It’s time to bring the same mindset, resources, and innovation to the issue of mental health and suicide prevention.”