SAFETY WEEK: CFMA promotes mental health and suicide prevention

Princeton, N.J. — The Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) joins companies across the U.S. in drawing attention to efforts to ensure workers’ safety and well-being on construction jobsites during National Safety Week, May 1-5, 2017. While jobsite safety often includes discussions around injuries, hazards, incident reporting, and first aid, CFMA has been focused on promoting mental health and suicide prevention.

With the July 2016 Center for Disease Control (CDC) report having shown construction as one of the most at-risk industries for suicide, CFMA formed the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention in October 2016. To date, more than 30 organizations, primarily in the construction industry, have pledged support. The Alliance’s mission is simple: Provide and disseminate information and resources for suicide prevention and mental health promotion in construction.

CFMA President & CEO Stuart Binstock said, “This heightened awareness and promotion of safety and well-being perfectly aligns with why the creation of the Alliance was an imperative for CFMA. The importance of building a zero-suicide industry means nothing less than saving the lives of our most valued resources—our human capital. We share in Safety Week’s dedication to a culture of care and concern in the construction industry and salute organizations such as The Construction Industry Safety (CISI) group and the Incident and Injury Free CEO (IIF) Forum that have championed this initiative.”

Additionally, for the 68th year, Mental Health America (MHA) leads the May Is Mental Health Month observance in spreading the word that mental health is a concern for everyone. MHA believes in the importance of educating people about habits and behaviors that increase the risk of developing or exacerbating mental illnesses, or could be signs of mental health problems themselves.

CFMA encourages company leaders and project teams to engage one another in safety performance evaluations and reviews and creating commitment pledges and action plans to continue to build foundations for successful physical and mental jobsite safety and wellness.