WashU expert highlights role of community in suicide prevention

During Suicide Prevention Month in September, Washington University expert Ryan Lindsay is highlighting that suicide prevention is a collective responsibility that does not require professional mental health training. Through gatekeeper training, individuals such as friends, colleagues, and mentors can learn to recognize distress, ask direct questions, and connect those in need to professional support.

Lindsay’s efforts are part of the COMPASS (Construction Organizations Mobilizing for Peer Support and Suicide Safety) research project. This initiative specifically targets the construction industry, where workers face some of the highest suicide rates of any occupation. The project aims to strengthen suicide awareness, peer support, and mental health connections within construction organizations.

The research is led by Dr. Bradley Evanoff of WashU Medicine and involves collaboration with the University of Iowa. The project is supported by a grant from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.