A Word From AGCVA Chair, Arlene Lee

“Man up.”

We have all known someone or have been that someone that puts on a brave face and powers through. Let’s face it, the entire construction industry has a persona of being tough guys (and gals). We are proud of what we have withstood and the resilience that came out of it. But let’s be real, “Man up” has a cost, and it can be steep. For some, it’s losing a business, clients, employees, a spouse, family, happiness, connectedness, physical health, mental stability, and sadly sometimes even their life. At some point, we are no longer able to “pay” the cost, and it becomes a matter of survival.

The construction industry leads all other industries in both the percentage and the number of suicides. Construction workers are four times as likely to commit suicide as the general population. We spend inordinate amounts of time training for safety on job sites and driver safety on roads. And yet, very few companies train on mental health awareness and developing the tools needed to help ourselves and one another be safe from a mental health perspective.

Suicide is the end of a long struggle for many. While every story is different, as an industry, we are seeing a serious rise in drug and alcohol use, aggressive driving, and all sorts of other aggressive behaviors. These are symptoms of the stress we are living with.

There are so many resources for both individuals and companies to plug into to help shift this tide both on the local and national levels. AGC America has taken this head on. AGC is challenging companies to sign the “Culture of Care” pledge. Companies that make the pledge are committing that everyone from the CEO to the least experienced field worker feels valued, respected, and heard. “Companies who commit to a Culture of CARE believe that everyone has the right to a work environment that is free from harassment, hazing and bullying.” It will take more than making a promise, but that is a good place to start. AGC provides resources to support companies that commit to a “Culture of CARE” to help develop and support culture growth. Resources can be found at:

Webpage: www.BuildCulture.org | Resources
Podcast: Building a Culture of CARE in Construction

Building an inclusive culture is just one step. People bring their whole selves to work, and regardless of whether the challenges are work or personal, they impact mental health as well as the companies they work for. AGC has partnered with Youturn Health as another resource for supporting mental health, substance abuse, and suicide prevention. More information about how companies can support their employees can be found on their website: https://youturnhealth.com/

In addition, this Wednesday, May 22, all AGC members have access to a FREE webinar addressing mental health, including sensitive issues like substance abuse and suicide ideation

Identifying those who may need a helping hand early is critical in turning the tide in the industry. I encourage each of you to leverage resources like these to the fullest. The better equipped we all are, the safer our teams, families, and friends will be.