To Our Construction Community:
Our industry has always been defined by its people — the ones who show up before sunrise to build what the world runs on, and return home each day to their families. Keeping them safe is the work behind the work.
For decades, we've refused to accept any injury no matter how big or small, as part of the job. We changed how we worked, and jobsites got safer. It's time to do the same for mental health.
Today, construction professionals die by suicide at a rate five times higher than any other cause of death on the job. Behind each one is a coworker, a friend, a parent, a son or daughter — and every one is one too many.
No company changes this number alone. But the more of us who take it on — together — the faster it falls.
One year ago, we joined the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in bringing Hard Hat Courage to the construction industry with a simple belief: mental health deserves the same urgency as physical safety. No one should have to choose between asking for help and showing up for work.
This Construction Suicide Prevention Week, thousands of jobsites will pause in a moment of silence — to honor those we've lost, and stand behind those still with us.
Join us. Bring Hard Hat Courage to your jobsites. Because every life matters, and every conversation counts.
The Hard Hat Courage CEO Advisory Council
In partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
- Brendan Bechtel, Chairman & CEO, Bechtel
- Jim Breuer, CEO, Fluor
- Peter Davoren, Chairman & CEO, Turner Construction Company
- Richard Kennedy, President & CEO, Skanska USA
- Rick Lanoha, President and CEO, Kiewit
- Sean McGarvey, President, North America’s Building Trades Unions
- Robert Moser, Jr., CEO, Clark Construction
- Chris Nelson, President & CEO, Stanley Black & Decker
- George Pfeffer, CEO, DPR Construction
Visit HardHatCourage.com for free resources that help your teams recognize warning signs, start meaningful conversations, support one another and create safer jobsites for everyone.
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.
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 and 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.
