Mental Health In Construction

As we are beginning to approach the festive season and mental health awareness being more publicized and help being more available than ever. It is important to acknowledge some of the statistics that are dominant within our own industry:

• Over 1,400 construction workers committed suicide between 2011 – 2015
• Construction trades have the highest number of suicides of any profession
• Risk of suicide for those working in building and construction trades is 1.6 times higher than the national average
• More than a quarter of construction employees have considered taking their own life
• Workers admit to suffering in silence
• Many within the industry suffer in silence due to cultural expectations
• Many workers feel forced to “deal with it,” not seeking out the help they need, and symptoms get worse

The risk of suicide for those working in the industry is 1.6 times higher than the national average. In order to reduce these shocking figures we should first address what exactly it is that is effecting and impacting construction workers. Through looking at multiple surveys that details what these areas are, it’s clear that there are three main points that need to be improved. The first is to have  internbal and regualar staff training in order to recognise the early indications of someone with mental health issues, 73% of respondents felt their employers lacked this skill. Second is to raise awareness of mental health in the construction industry. A massive 83% of workers agree that there isn’t enough out there at the moment. This will also decrease the stigma that currently surrounds mental health. And finally, there need to be more outlets available so that workers can talk about their struggles. 

If you are struggling with a mental health issue there are many ways you can find help. There are charities and third-party organisations that offer free help and listening services such as the Samaritans and SANEline. However, if you are more open about talking about how you are feeling, always talk to friends & family as they will know you better than anyone. Another route could be co-workers or your employer as they’ll be able to relate work-wise with your issues.

Whichever options you choose, the first step is to just talk about it.