ABC of California applauded the California State Assembly for the unanimous and bipartisan passage of Assembly Concurrent Resolution 23, which proclaims March 18, 2021 as Construction Suicide Prevention Awareness Day in California—raising awareness of an important health problem affecting the state’s construction industry. ABC of California supports ACR 23 and is currently working alongside its author, Assembly member Carlos Villapudua (D-Stockton), to help change the conversation around suicide and suicide prevention.

“Suicide is a complex phenomenon and a serious public health problem that demands our attention,” said Assembly member Villapudua. “Suicide among the U.S. working-age population (ages 16-64 years) is increasing, with suicide among construction workers being one of the highest rates in the country. With this in mind, I introduced ACR 23 to bring awareness of an issue affecting thousands of construction workers and to remind Californians that we must do everything we can in our power to prevent the circumstances that lead to death by suicide."

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death overall in the United States, the second leading cause of death in those under the age of 34, and fourth leading cause of death in those aged 35 to 54. The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention notes that the “suicide rate in the construction occupations is 49.4/100,000—that is nearly four times greater than the national average and five times greater than that of all other construction fatalities combined.”

“We are grateful for Assembly member Villapudua’s support of California’s construction workers by proclaiming March 18, 2021, as Construction Suicide Prevention Awareness Day in California,” said John Hamo, chair of the board of directors of ABC of California. “ACR 23 will go a long way in raising awareness about suicide prevention for Californians working in the construction trades.”

Additional information on ACR 23 can found in this fact sheet.