Construction's New Job to Fix: Mental Health

By Sue Drummond, Harness Software. 

The mental health epidemic in the construction industry proves to be more dangerous than any jobsite hazard, here is how to combat this issue. 

Did you know that as a construction worker you are four times more likely to commit suicide? It’s not a common subject in construction, but mental health in the workplace is clearly a pressing issue within the industry. It is time to start addressing mental health. Read on to learn how to combat this issue as a construction worker or employer and how to build a more mentally healthy future for construction. 

Why is mental health and suicide such a problem in construction? 

Men, in general, are at higher risk of suicide than women, and they dominate the industry. The pressure men face to be strong, robust and resilient is especially prevalent in construction and leads to feelings of isolation for those who are struggling. 

In the past, suicide has solely been linked to untreated (or mistreated) mental health issues. Those who were experiencing depression were considered to have something wrong with them and were even labeled “crazy.”  

However, studies now show the workplace environment is a major contributing factor to depression and anxiety. Employment is supposed to offer us a sense of purpose and provide us with social interaction and stability. Still, when your work environment is hostile, it can lead to feelings of disconnection and despair.  

Below is a list of factors associated with toxic work environments: 

• Work that isn’t meaningful or rewarding (little exposure to the finished product or effect) 

• Work-family conflict (demands at work spill into family life, hours, pay levels, etc.) 

• Low job control (lack of decision-making ability, lack of variety in job tasks) 

• Excessive pressure to perform 

• Expectations of working overtime 

• Prejudice and discrimination 

• Work-related sleep disruption (early and or late shifts) 

• Exposure to dangerous elements (jobs with a high risk of fatalities) 

• A culture of poor self-care and coping strategies (poor diet, drugs, alcohol) 

Many, if not all, of these factors, are rampant within the construction industry, thereby leading to a higher rate of mental health issues and suicide.  

What can you do to combat this issue? 

Construction workers: 

Talking about mental health and suicide can feel awkward and uncomfortable. The stigma surrounding these topics can make us embarrassed to bring them up, and sometimes what happens is we use inappropriate phrases and jokes instead. The problem with this is that it makes it harder for those around you to ask for help or admit how they feel. 

It helps to think about mental health issues like we do any other illness.  You wouldn’t say someone “is cancer,” and you certainly wouldn’t make fun of them for having it.  When treating mental health the same way, we instead say someone “has depression” or “is experiencing anxiety.” 

In general, put a second thought into what you are saying and ensure it will encourage your co-workers to talk to you instead of discouraging it. Statistics suggest someone on your crew is struggling right now. 

Construction employers: 

There are two ways that construction companies can proactively reduce the chances of mental health issues and suicide among their employees. 

1 - Fix your company culture 

Take a good hard, honest look at your company culture and ask yourself if the factors listed above are existent there. If they are, the first step is to eliminate them or at least reduce them. For example: 

• Email your crews with pictures of the final products they were a part of constructing, so they may feel pride in their workmanship. 

• If the days are too long, implement shifts or shorten the number of working days in a week (half get Monday’s off and half get Friday’s off). 

• Include your employees in decision-making opportunities, even if it’s not their field of expertise, i.e., have a vote on the new company logo. 

• Center the company focus on worker safety, not production numbers. 

2 - Implement a suicide prevention program 

You should already have a formal health and safety program, now is the time to add a section on suicide prevention. The program should include crisis management training for dedicated employees, raising awareness through company-wide toolbox talks, conducting peer check-ins, providing resources to families on warning signs, and normalizing the mental health conversation. 

Together, as a team, we can eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and stop this epidemic. 

For more on this topic and practical takeaways on how to incorporate mental health into your companies safety program, join Sue in her session at NWiR Day 2022. 

The Harness Safety App is used by roofing companies to better manage their health & safety programs. We enable companies to better train their workers and manage day-to-day safety tasks. Our clients are able to quickly gain meaningful insights on where they can improve safety so they can easily save time and lower costs. For help with your safety program, book a demo today. 

How you can access help 

If you’d like to talk to someone about your mental health or that of a loved one, these resources are free, confidential, and available 24/7. 

• Crisis text line: Text “hello” or “help” to 741741. 

• National suicide prevention lifeline: Call 800-273-8255.   

Learn more about Harness in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.harnessup.com.

Originally published in CoatingsPro Magazine