Bechtel teams up with major US construction firms to combat suicide

Bechtel and AFSP held an event in Washington, D.C., unveiling the partnership, focused on raising awareness, educating stakeholders on the construction suicide crisis (Image: Bechtel)

The Advisory Council brings together Bechtel, Fluor, Turner Construction Company, North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), Kiewit, Clark Construction, DPR Construction, Skanska USA, and Stanley Black & Decker (which includes Dewalt within its brands).

The chief executives from those companies will help to guide an industry-wide effort to develop solutions that target the construction industry’s high rate of suicide, according to Bechtel.

The move comes after the Bechtel Group Foundation committed US& million to a five-year partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) earlier this year.

It was the largest pledge the AFSP has ever received and the largest single donation the Bechtel Group Foundation has ever made.

The initiative aims to develop new research-based programs and resources specifically tailored to the construction industry.

The effort, led by a newly established Construction Initiatives team within AFSP, seeks to reach 500,000 U.S. construction workers over the next five years through industry-specific programs and resources aiming to increase awareness of mental health aid and suicide prevention.

The council will meet quarterly to evaluate current mental health programs, identify gaps in support, and design new initiatives that address the needs faced by construction professionals.

Brendan Bechtel, Bechtel chairman and CEO, said, “Suicide prevention and mental health are issues that touch everyone in the construction industry.

“Just like with worksite safety, nothing is proprietary when it comes to saving lives. My fellow industry leaders share this belief and by joining this council, they’ve shown that they are committed to working together to find solutions. I’m deeply grateful for their participation as founding partners. The more we can engage a broad group of leaders and collaborate on solutions, the more effective we will be in providing our people the support they need. We owe it to them, to our colleagues, and to their families to find solutions and prevent these tragedies.”

Robert Gebbia, AFSP CEO, said, “It’s powerful to see these top leaders across the construction community coming together to support this unique suicide prevention initiative. Their involvement sends a clear message that the industry is committed to finding solutions and making a difference in the lives of its workers. The council members’ insights will be invaluable to our team at AFSP as we develop the programs and resources to make this effort successful. We look forward to their collaboration.”

Founding members of the CEO Advisory Council include:

• Don Allan Jr., president and CEO, Stanley Black & Decker
• Brendan Bechtel, chairman and CEO, Bechtel
• David Constable, chairman and CEO, Fluor
• Peter Davoren, chairman, President and CEO, Turner Construction Company
• Richard Kennedy, president and CEO, Skanska USA
• Rick Lanoha, president and CEO, Kiewit
• Sean McGarvey, president, North America’s Building Trades
• Robert D. Moser, Jr., CEO, Clark Construction
• George Pfeffer, CEO, DPR Construction

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