#38 Begin the Conversation & Save a Life Today with Frank King

#38 Begin the Conversation & Save a Life Today with Frank King

From BUILD America by Kerry Smith

February 9, 2026 · 24 min · Episode 39

About this episode

Kerry Smith Buck speaks with Frank King about starting conversations that can save lives in the construction industry, focusing on mental health and suicide prevention.

In this episode, Kerry Smith Buck speaks with Frank King, former Tonight Show comedy writer turned suicide prevention speaker, about how to start conversations that can save lives in the construction industry. Drawing from his own lifelong battle with depression and near-suicide, Frank explains why construction has the highest suicide rate in the U.S., how to recognize warning signs on the jobsite, what not to say when someone is struggling, and why asking directly about suicide can be a critical intervention. With humor, honesty, and real jobsite stories, this episode highlights why mental health is a safety issue - and how anyone, at any level, can make a difference by starting the conversation.

People in this episode

Host: Kerry Smith Buck

Guest: Frank King

Topics covered

  • suicide prevention
  • construction industry
  • mental health
  • conversation skills
  • safety issues

Keywords

  • suicide
  • construction
  • mental health
  • Frank King
  • Kerry Smith Buck
  • warning signs
  • jobsite stories

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tonight Show

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