Suicidal thoughts and behaviours among construction workers: Identifying risks and protective factors

The construction industry records concerningly high rates of suicide compared to other industries. This study aimed to (1) identify sub-groups within the industry that report elevated rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviours, and (2) identify patterns of risk and protective factors that may inform suicide risk.

A large representative sample of construction workers in Western Australia (N = 1743) participated in a cross-sectional survey. Participants reported recent suicidal ideation, plans and attempts. Associations with personal life and workplace risk factors were examined through decision tree models, and classification accuracy examined through ensemble machine-learning modelling.

Construction workers reported suicidal ideation (10.3 %), plans (4.7 %) and attempts (1.1 %) in the past year, with drive-in drive-out workers, female, divorced or separated, and non-heterosexual workers tending to report elevated rates. Loneliness, workplace bullying, and substance use were most strongly associated with recent suicidal ideation. Social support at and away from work were associated with lower suicidal ideation.

The cross-sectional design limits causal claims and does not capture dynamic cognitive and behavioural processes over time.

These findings underscore the need for targeted workplace suicide prevention and mental health initiatives for all construction workers and the proactive identification and intervention for those most at risk.