Hawkeyed Safety Services LLC

My heart aches for those who have lost loved ones to this mental health crisis. Most everyone knows someone who has ended their life prematurely. I have lost a cousin who left a wife and 3 kids under six years old behind to pick up the pieces, and a coworker two years ago. According to CDC’s 2022 provisional data released today, nearly 50,000 people lost their lives to this mental health crisis. This is the highest rate since 1941 (beginning of WWII). The good news is that fewer 10–24-year-olds are committing suicide (COVID 19 probably had something to do with this the previous couple of years). The bad news is that the suicide rate is higher for those 25 years-old and older. I was shocked to see that suicides rose 8.1% year-over-year for those people aged 65 and older. There is one suicide committed in the U.S. every 11 minutes. More must be done in the workplace to raise awareness. More companies should implement a robust wellness program. I work in construction and our industry has the highest rate of suicides. We have to agree this is a disease and companies should understand that work induced stressors such as financial uncertainties, limited opportunities for growth, and work demands create a lot of stress on workers. Creating psychological safety environments where a sense of belonging is felt throughout an organization is salient. While it is common for a person who has a mental health issue to not be aware they have a problem, it is also true that most people aren’t trained to know how to help those in need. There are several prevention resources available including the 988 Lifeline network that is available 24/7 across the U.S. Let’s work together to raise mental health awareness and end this disease!