Learn the Best Strategies for Suicide and Substance Abuse Prevention

Safety
Published

The home building industry has recently shown that it is ready to have conversations about mental health and substance abuse. Join NAHB and its supporting partners in recognizing September as National Suicide Prevention Month and October as National Substance Abuse Prevention Month.

A CDC/NIOSH report from August 2023 showed construction had the highest overdose mortality rate among industries at 162 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2020, and construction professionals accounted for nearly a quarter of the 58,917 total drug overdose deaths in 46 states and New York City.

Construction workers are also five times more likely to die by suicide than from a jobsite injury, with as many as 50% of all construction workers experiencing a diagnosable mental health problem.

NAHB and its partners — including SAFE Project, the Job-Site Safety Institute (JSI), MindWise Innovations, and others — have created resources to help employers maintain a safe and supportive work environment.

Mental Health

As a member of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention, NAHB encourages members to take the pledge to STAND up for suicide prevention and No Shame Pledge.

Substance Abuse

More resources on mental health and substance abuse can be found on nahb.org.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Membership
Nov 04, 2026
NAHB Leadership Academy Prepares Next Generation of Member Leaders

In just three years, the NAHB Leadership Academy has grown into one of NAHB’s most impactful leadership development programs. The academy is now preparing to welcome its fourth cohort in 2027. Applications will be accepted through Nov. 16, 2026.

Advocacy
Nov 04, 2026
NAHB Poised to Advance Housing Priorities After Midterms

NAHB Chief Advocacy Officer Ken Wingert provides an election analysis.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics
Nov 03, 2026
Construction Job Openings Rise in September

The number of open positions in the construction sector increased in September per the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The current level of open jobs is down from three years ago due to declines in construction activity, particularly in housing.

Economics
Nov 02, 2026
Private Residential Construction Slips as Remodeling Weakens

Private residential construction spending decreased in September 2026 driven by a steep decline in improvement (remodeling) spending. According to the latest construction spending data from the U.S. Census Bureau, private residential construction spending came in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $848.8 billion in September, down 5.5% from the revised August estimates and lower by 8.9% from last year.

Economics
Nov 02, 2026
Interior Finishes: The Most Time-Consuming Stage of Single-family Construction

Interior finishes (drywall, interior doors, painting, cabinets, countertops, plumbing fixtures, flooring, etc.) take more time to complete—6.4 weeks, on average—than any other major stage of single-family construction, according to results from the latest NAHB/Well Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) survey.