Illinois Construction Hike for Hope Confronts Industry Suicide Crisis

June 28 Event in Downers Grove Shines Light on Mental Health in the Construction Workforce

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., June 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Suicide remains a silent crisis in the U.S. construction industry, claiming more lives than jobsite accidents each year. On Saturday, June 28, 2025, the Illinois Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) will host the inaugural Illinois Construction Hike for Hope at Hidden Lake Forest Preserve in Downers Grove to confront this issue head-on.

The event is part of AFSP's nationwide Construction Hike for Hope initiative, created to engage construction workers, their families, and industry stakeholders around the urgent need for mental health awareness and suicide prevention.

"Too many lives are lost in an industry that builds our homes, roads, and cities," said Angela Cummings, Executive Director of AFSP Illinois. "Our Construction Hike for Hope is about raising awareness, fighting stigma, and giving workers and their families—hope and help. Mental health safety must be part of the job."

Illinois Construction Hike for Hope Details

Illinois Construction Hike for Hope
Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025
Time: Check-in begins at 10:00 a.m. | Program starts at 11:00 a.m.
Location: Hidden Lake Forest Preserve, 4255 Navistar Drive, Downers Grove, IL (The entrance is on the east side of Route 53 just south of Butterfield Road)
Registration: Free and open to the public. No fundraising minimum required.
More info: https://supporting.afsp.org/event/ILconstruction

The hike will include a brief opening ceremony, a 2-mile walk through the scenic preserve, and access to resources from AFSP and partners. Speakers will include Phil Martinez, AFSP Illinois Board Chair.

A Growing Crisis in Construction

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), workers in the construction and extraction fields have the highest suicide rate of any industry in the U.S.—four times higher than the general population. In fact, more construction workers die by suicide than from all workplace injuries combined, based on data from the CDC and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The high-risk environment includes long hours, physically demanding labor, separation from support networks, and a culture that often discourages open conversations about mental health. AFSP's Construction Hike for Hope aims to disrupt that silence.

"By coming together in community, we're not just raising funds—we're raising awareness and helping shift the culture," Cummings said. "This hike is for the dads, brothers, sons, mothers, sisters, daughters, friends, and coworkers we've lost—and for those who are still with us and need support."

About the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to individuals affected by suicide. The organization creates a culture that is smart regarding mental health through educational programs, advocation for suicide prevention, and providing support for those affected by suicide. All donations go towards these efforts with the goal to greatly reduce the national suicide rate. For more: https://afsp.org/chapter/illinois

Suicide Prevention Resources: https://afsp.org/suicide-prevention-resources
Suicide Warning Signs: afsp.org/signs
Media: Reporting on Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/reporting-on-suicide-prevention
PSAs:  https://talkawaythedark.afsp.org

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SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention