September is National Suicide Prevention Month:

By Diane Lovine • Published September 4, 2025 • Updated July 20, 2026

What Home Service Contractors Need to Know

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911.
24/7 help: Call or text 988 (Veterans: dial 988, then press 1) or text HOME to 741741 to reach a trained crisis counselor. You can also search local treatment options at FindTreatment.gov. (SAMHSA, veteranscrisisline.net, Crisis Text Line, FindTreatment.gov)

Note from 99 Calls
In a recent conversation with a trusted mental health professional and friend, I learned that suicide is a serious and too often hidden risk in the skilled trades. Because our team works with thousands of contractors each year, we feel a responsibility to understand the data, explore the “why,” and share practical steps and resources that can save lives. This article is part of that commitment. Let’s make it safer to speak up, ask for help, and support one another – replacing stigma with compassion and action.

Why this matters in the trades

Workers in the trades, electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, remodelers, appliance repair, and lawn & landscape, fall into several occupational groups that the CDC identifies with elevated suicide rates. In 2021, suicide rates among working-age men were 32.0 per 100,000 overall; by comparison, Construction & Extraction men were 65.6, Installation, Maintenance & Repair 46.0, and Building & Grounds Cleaning & Maintenance 37.6. The Construction industry overall, and “Other Services” (which includes automotive repair), also ranked among the highest. (CDC)

The trend line

Across the U.S. working-age population, suicide has risen roughly 33% over the last two decades, and construction-related occupations have consistently tracked higher than average across multiple CDC analyses (2012, 2015, 2016, and 2021). While methods and state coverage vary by report, the pattern is consistent: construction-aligned jobs pose an elevated risk.

Why are rates higher in this field?

Research points to a mix of work- and life-related factors that commonly show up in home-service and construction roles:

Chronic pain & injury from physically demanding work; downstream risk of opioid exposure/misuse after injuries.
Irregular/seasonal income, long hours, job insecurity, travel, and isolation which can increase stress and reduce social support.
Lower use of mental-health care among Installation/Maintenance/Repair workers; physical health problems and PTSD show up more often among decedents in this group compared with other occupations.
Workplace culture & stigma (tough-it-out norms) that make help-seeking harder.

What’s being done (and where to plug in)

Call, text or chat 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline during Construction Suicide Prevention Week

Construction Suicide Prevention Week (Sept. 8–12, 2025): free employer toolkits, slide decks, posters, and an OSHA-recognized participation certificate.
CIASP (Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention): toolbox talks, “STAND Up” action steps, and free LivingWorks Start training slots for companies.
CPWR (Center for Construction Research & Training): suicide-prevention and opioid-risk resources; ready-to-use training modules.
OSHA & NIOSH: employer checklists and “Critical Steps Your Workplace Can Take Today to Prevent Suicide.”
Working Minds (Construction): industry-specific planning tools and training.

What individual contractors and techs can do

Check in with a buddy weekly (five minutes counts).
Mind the basics: sleep, movement, regular meals, and hydration, especially during high heat or peak season.
Have a pain plan: talk with your clinician about non-opioid options when possible.
Save these numbers in your phone: 988; Veterans 988-1; Crisis Text Line 741741.

How customers and local communities can help

Be kind and patient with field techs. High-stress calls add up.
Pay promptly and leave specific, positive reviews; predictable cash flow reduces stress.
Trade schools, supply houses, and chambers can host short gatekeeper trainings and display 988 materials. (preventconstructionsuicide.com)