Today is World Mental Health Day 2024, and with this focus on mental health in the workplace, we look at the alarming rates of mental health challenges within the construction sector and identifies potential solutions to address these issues.

 

Alarming Statistics in the Construction Industry

A staggering 83% of construction workers report having experienced mental health issues, as revealed by a 2020 survey from CIRP. The construction industry ranks among the highest globally for mental health concerns.

Additionally, a study conducted the same year by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) uncovered the following insights about mental health in the UK construction workforce:

• 70% faced depression
• 97% experienced stress
• 96% felt fatigued
• 95% reported difficulty concentrating
• 91% felt overwhelmed
• 86% experienced a lack of self-confidence
• 87% of workers reported experiencing anxiety

These figures illustrate the critical nature of mental health issues, which World Mental Health Day 2024 aims to highlight.

Sadly, the situation has not improved significantly. In 2021, amid the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the suicide rate among construction workers remained at 34 per 100,000, with 507 workers taking their own lives that year—averaging nearly 10 per week. This statistic indicates that construction workers are approximately 10 times more likely to die by suicide than in workplace accidents.

While suicide is the most severe outcome, mental health issues also lead to reduced focus, increasing the risk of accidents when operating heavy machinery, thus heightening the chances of injuries on-site. Moreover, personal life challenges stemming from poor mental health can further disrupt project delivery and efficiency.

Although mental health challenges impact all construction workers, women face unique pressures that may compound their stress, such as feeling isolated in a male-dominated environment, experiencing gender-related harassment, unequal pay, and limited advancement opportunities.

 

Understanding the Roots of Mental Health Issues

The CIOB report further examined the specific stressors that construction workers identified as contributing to their mental health challenges:

• 93% were stressed by excessive workloads
• 86% of senior staff reported stress related to cost pressures
• 84% felt stressed due to a lack of involvement in decision-making
• 71% of manual workers found inadequate toilet facilities stressful
• 80% were stressed by high noise levels
• 79% cited insufficient temperature control as a source of stress
• 67% experienced stress due to uncertainty about their work locations
• 92% felt stressed by unrealistic deadlines
• 94% faced pressure from tight time constraints

While all these figures are concerning, workload and working hours seem to be the most significant stressors. Recent studies support this notion, indicating that additional stressors include prolonged absences from family and friends, as well as concerns over job security due to seasonal layoffs and intense competition.

Collectively, these factors paint a picture of the construction environment as one that can be both stressful and distressing.

 

Addressing Mental Health in the Construction Sector

Despite some advancements, the situation still requires urgent attention. According to the same CIOB study:

• 31% felt their employer would take a mental health issue seriously
• 71% had no formal mental health training in the last three years
• 56% stated their employer had a mental health policy in place
• 38% of construction workers reported that their employer provided helplines
• 35% had access to Mental Health First Aiders
• Only 5% reported having fatigue management plans

These statistics reflect a significant gap in the support available to address the serious mental health challenges faced by construction workers in the UK.

Organizations such as Mates in Mind and Band of Builders are actively working to raise awareness and implement solutions to these issues. Initiatives like the Band of Builders’ Big Brew help facilitate conversations about mental health.

Nonetheless, further support and reforms are essential to reduce mental health challenges in the construction industry.