Suicide Prevention: A Critical Part of Aldridge’s Safety Culture
At Aldridge, safety goes beyond helmets and harnesses. It means looking out for the whole person, both on and off the job site. This commitment to people-first safety was recently highlighted in Electrical Contractor Magazine, which featured Aldridge’s efforts to integrate suicide prevention and mental health awareness into our safety culture.
The article explores how Aldridge is:
Expanding safety training to include mental health and suicide prevention.
Empowering team members to recognize warning signs and support one another.
Partnering with industry leaders to address one of the most pressing challenges in construction.
This work is part of our broader commitment to building an environment where every team member feels supported, valued, and safe.
Building a Culture of Care: Suicide Prevention Training at Aldridge
In 2019, Ken Aldridge, a second-generation family owner of Aldridge Electric Inc., Libertyville, Ill., attended a CEO conference where he heard a statistic that tugged at his heart and conscience: the suicide rate for men in construction is nearly twice that of civilian working men and five times higher than the rate for all fatal work-related injuries in the industry, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The realization sparked a company-wide shift. Aldridge brought in Sally Spencer-Thomas, a mental health advocate who lost her brother to suicide in 2004. Her role was to educate the executive team on unique challenges facing construction workers and how to address them.
Spencer-Thomas, who earned a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Denver, goes by “Dr. Sally” on her website. Her training explored risk factors related to suicide and introduced VitalCog, a program designed to help employees recognize signs of distress, such as mood or behavior changes. The program also teaches employees to respond with empathy, confidence and support.
Aldridge invited Spencer-Thomas back to lead a train-the-trainer series that would also equip selected team members with tools and resources. Once certified, these trainers were ready to facilitate intimate 2-hour sessions, creating space for open, supportive conversations.
Aldridge originally planned to certify 40 trainers. “Over 100 team members signed up,” said Jennifer Hudock, marketing and communications manager and VitalCog trainer for Aldridge. “Instead of trimming that list, we trained them all. Who were we to turn away people willing to help others?”
Aldridge Electric used Construction Safety Week to expand the program’s reach.
“We deployed trainers across the country, training nearly 700 team members that week.” Hudock said.
Today, about 70 employees remain active trainers. Training happens on an as-requested basis.
“Aldridge adopted a mental health and wellness program in 2020 as part of its employee assistance program,” Hudock said. “The VitalCog program is an excellent addition to that program and our world-class safety culture, which is focused on the health and well-being of all team members.”
Aldridge Electric employs nearly 2,000 people. Their VitalCog trainers include general foremen, corporate department leads and vice presidents, representing all areas of the company. They even extend the training to other trade partners at job sites across the country.
“We genuinely want to make a difference in the industry,” Hudock said. “It’s easy to overlook the warning signs, but once you become more aware and have an action plan, it becomes easier to step in and help.”
Risk factors related to the construction industry include extended time away from family; industry volatility, which makes it hard to budget and manage family finances; injuries that can open the door to pain killers and substance abuse; and a masculine culture that tells people to bottle up their feelings.
“In our industry, it’s a newer concept to share openly,” Hudock said. “The old mindset was all about grit and toughness. But every time I lead a session, someone comes up to share their story and express gratitude. My most touching moment was holding a man in my arms while he cried after opening up. That vulnerability speaks volumes about why this matters.”
The suicide rate for men is higher than for women, but women are vulnerable as well.
“I remind everyone that a pain shared is a pain halved,” Hudock said. “What matters most is sharing with someone who sees you not as a burden, but as a person in need of support. Having someone you can trust makes all the difference, and VitalCog helps open the door to create that trusted connection.”