Fort Worth, Texas — July 7, 2026. Through a new partnership agreement, the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) will collaborate with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) on amplifying the Hard Hat Courage initiative. According to the agreement, "Hard Hat Courage was built into confront the high rates of suicide in the construction community and evolve the industry to one that prioritizes mental health alongside physical safety. Engineered to scale, the cross-industry initiative will arm companies of all sizes with construction-specific mental health and suicide prevention resources and education." 

AFSP will supply educational resources and content for NAWIC to disseminate among members, employers, partners, and colleagues to implement and advance suicide prevention education programs and awareness initiatives. "The mental and physical health and welfare of our industry workforce is the priority," says Rita Brown, 2025-26 President of NAWIC. "We are committed to leveraging the power of our community to advance this critical initiative." 

• As a partner with AFSP, NAWIC expects to promote several activities, including: 
• Incorporating Hard Hat Courage resources onto NAWIC's industry resource hub web page. 
• Co-hosting a Mental Health & Suicide Prevention virtual event and Talk Saves Lives Construction training during relevant awareness activities. 
• Incorporate the vetted subject matter experts from Hard Hat Courage as industry speakers for NAWIC's professional development training programs and initiatives 
• Include Hard Hat Courage to participate as a charitable partner in the Luxe Lane: Strike & Style Community Fundraiser. This event will be hosted by NAWIC on Thursday, August 13, 2026, during NAWIC's 71st Annual Conference in Reno, NV. 
• Include the Hard Hat Courage executive team as active participants in the NAWIC Construction Congress, a solution focused invite-only gathering of industries top level construction experts and companies on August 11, 2026, in Reno, NV. 

About NAWIC: The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) continues the vision of its founding members by advocating for the value and impact of women builders, professionals, and tradeswomen in all aspects of the construction industry. With more than 120 chapters and over 6,000 members across the country, NAWIC offers its members opportunities for professional development, education, networking, and leadership training. To learn more, visit nawic.org.