Construction is a vital but demanding industry. The long hours, harsh conditions, and relentless deadlines leave many workers physically and mentally exhausted. When combined with a 'tough it out' mentality and the stigma surrounding mental health, this can have devastating consequences.
Alarming Statistics
The construction industry faces a public health crisis: its suicide rate is four times the national average and surpasses all other construction-related deaths combined. Substance abuse, closely linked to mental health struggles, is another major concern. These sobering statistics highlight that mental well-being is just as vital as physical safety.
Why Is Construction Work Particularly Exhausting?
- 'Tough it Out' Mentality: The industry often emphasizes stoicism, especially for men who make up the majority of the workforce. This discourages seeking help, even when desperately needed.
- Stigma and Fear: Workers worry about judgment, career setbacks, or being labeled as weak for admitting to struggles with depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions.
- Unique Challenges: Chronic pain from injuries, financial instability, isolation, and the cyclical nature of the work further contribute to a perfect storm for mental health decline.
The Path to Change: It Starts at the Top
Construction leaders hold immense power to transform this crisis. By being Visible, Vocal, and Vulnerable about mental health, they set the tone for the entire industry:
- Visible: Actively participate in mental health awareness events, visibly support initiatives, and make well-being a visible priority alongside physical safety.
- Vocal: Openly discuss mental health in company meetings, toolbox talks, and personal interactions. Normalize seeking help and dismantle stigma through powerful language choices.
- Vulnerable: When appropriate, leaders can share their own challenges with stress or mental health. This resonates deeply, demonstrating that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Solutions-Focused Actions
These leadership principles must be followed by concrete actions:
- Fostering a Caring Culture: Break down stigma through open conversations. Model vulnerability, normalize discussions about mental health, and make it clear: seeking help is a sign of strength.
- Prioritizing Access: Ensure benefits packages include robust mental health coverage, crisis hotlines, and EAPs. Gallup alarmingly found that most U.S. workers don't even know what mental health support their company offers. Let's make communication about these resources a priority.
- Training Leaders: Equip supervisors and managers with the skills to spot signs of distress and offer support. Mental Health First Aid or tailored construction-specific training can be invaluable.
- Practical Prevention on the Jobsite: While the idea of work-life balance is important, it's often hard to achieve within the realities of the construction industry. Normalize brief check-ins between colleagues, encourage on-the-job breaks to reset and combat stress, and promote resources connecting physical health to mental well-being.
- Partner with Organizations: Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP) provides construction-focused mental health resources, toolbox talks, and awareness campaigns. Showcase their logo and website prominently.
Addressing mental health in construction takes a multi-faceted approach. At McClone, we go beyond just offering benefits. Our team can guide you in selecting benefits plans that truly protect your workforce, navigate the complexities of mental health coverage, and provide customized toolbox talks, mental health training webinars, support kits, and on-site guidance.
Backed by over a decade of industry-specific experience, we understand the unique needs of your workers and will work with you to ensure these strategies make a genuine, sustainable impact on your company's culture. Let's create a healthier, more resilient construction industry together.
Kris Travis, Safety Risk Manager.
My name is Kris Travis. I’m originally from the Northwest Chicago suburbs, please don’t hold it against me, and relocated to Oshkosh in 2005. I have 18 years of Safety and Human Resources experience. I am a member of the National Safety Council (NSC), The WI Safety Council and the American Society of Safety Professionals. My years in Wisconsin have been spent working for various companies honing my skills and knowledge in both Human Resources and Safety. I have been employed in a paper mill , warehouse/ distribution company, manufacturing company and most recently served as the Human Resources/ Safety Director for a construction company. Each position added its own unique set of challenges and learnings to get me to my current opportunity with McClone. My experience includes: Conducting Safety Audits/ Inspections, Producing Corrective Action Audit Reports, Design and implementation of Safety Programs, OSHA interactions and recording, Policy development, Accident Investigation, Risk Assessment, and Comprehensive safety training. I hold Certifications in OSHA 10- Construction, OSHA 30-General Industry and EM385. I look forward to working with you.
