By Brandon Anderson, Vice President of Safety, AGC of Missouri
In construction, we pride ourselves on building the physical foundations of America—its roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals. But today, we face an equally important task: building a culture that protects the mental and emotional well-being of the men and women who make this industry possible.
For too long, mental health challenges were considered issues to be handled privately, quietly, or not at all. The result has been devastating. Construction consistently ranks among the industries with the highest rates of suicide in the United States. Substance misuse, often rooted in stress, chronic pain, or untreated mental health conditions, remains a leading risk. Behind every statistic is a coworker, a friend, or a family member whose life may depend on whether our industry chooses to act.
At the Associated General Contractors of Missouri, under the leadership of Len Tojenis AGCMO chose to take ACTION. Today, across the wider AGC network we have decided that silence is no longer an option. Safety must evolve beyond hard hats and hazard controls. Today, safety must also mean total worker wellbeing, compassion, connection and gratitude.
Why Construction Workers Are at Increased Risk
Construction work is demanding, both physically and mentally. Employees face long hours, seasonal layoffs, high-pressure deadlines, and physically taxing labor. Many work through pain, putting off medical care because they don’t want to miss work or let their team down. Stoicism is often valued; vulnerability, less so. This culture can unintentionally discourage people from asking for help until a crisis occurs.
In addition, nearly every project site includes workers from numerous companies and backgrounds, which makes it challenging to offer consistent support systems. These realities underscore why our industry must take intentional and coordinated steps to protect mental well-being.
ACTION in the industry
Recognizing the urgency of the problem, many organizations have taken actions. For example AGC of America established the National Task Force for Mental Health in 2022. A collaborative initiative bringing together safety leaders, mental health professionals, and contractors across the country. The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP) is the industry focused organization that is committed to ending suicide in our industry. Most recently SAIA has this past year held regional meetings focusing on safety and mental health and suicide prevention. During the 2026 SAIA Convention, a Keynote dedicated to Mental Health and Suicide Prevention was delivered.
