Georgia’s Construction Industry
STRONG ENOUGH TO CARE. TOUGH ENOUGH TO TALK.
Partner Organizations
The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) created the 988 Construction Industry Advisory Committee to address the state’s mental health crisis in construction.
Bringing together trade associations, industry leaders, and mental health experts, the Committee works to reduce stigma, raise awareness, and ensure workers know that the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 - free and confidential.
The Georgia 988 Construction Advisory Committee
The Hidden Crisis in Construction
Construction is one of Georgia’s strongest industries—and one of its most vulnerable workforces when it comes to mental health and suicide risk. Behind the hard hats and jobsite grit are workers grappling with pressures that take a heavy toll: physical injuries, job insecurity, substance misuse, and untreated mental health struggles.
Numbers Tell The Story: Suicide Rates in Construction
The highest of any occupation in Georgia.
From 2017–2021, construction and extraction workers died by suicide at a rate 165% higher than the state average.
743 workers lost in just four years (58.6 per 100,000 vs. 22.1 per 100,000 statewide)
Overdose Deaths
Construction workers face the greatest overdose risk of any industry in the U.S.
In 2020, construction workers had 162.6 overdose deaths per 100,000 workers.
That’s nearly 3x higher than the average U.S. workforce (42.1 per 100,000)
Why This Matters
The construction industry is built on strength, skill, and teamwork—but the culture has too often discouraged workers from speaking up about mental health. Silence has become deadly. By acknowledging the crisis and connecting workers to resources like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential, 24/7 support, the industry can turn the tide, reduce stigma, and save lives.
Resources And Downloads
Feel free to download and print any of the materials below. You can help save a life today by raising awareness of 988 the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
