In the 14 years since I started my career as a psychotherapist, I\u2019ve seen some shifts in the way society views mental health. Slowly, the stigma attached to mental illness seems to be decreasing. And each year during the month of May\u2013Mental Health Awareness Month\u2013I\u2019m always happy to learn about organizations and industries who are working hard to promote workplace mental health.<\/p>\n
Although the construction industry may be about the last place you\u2019d expect workers to talk about depression or anxiety, they\u2019re becoming industry leaders in mental health awareness. They\u2019re doing some incredible work to reduce the stigma attached to mental health and they\u2019re saving lives.<\/p>\n
The Construction Industry Recognized the Need<\/strong><\/p>\n A lot of talk about workplace mental health focuses on office workers. There\u2019s a notion that employees who bring their work home with them might be at a greater risk of mental health problems, burnout, and high stress levels.<\/p>\n But stress affects more than just the high salaried executives. The working conditions for many blue collar workers also contributes to mental health problems.<\/p>\n Recently, the construction industry took notice. They realized that their workers weren\u2019t just at a high risk of mental health problems, but they\u2019re also at a high risk of suicide.<\/p>\n Here are the facts:<\/p>\n \u2022 Construction jobs are still made up predominantly of young males. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for men in the United States between the ages of 25 and 54.<\/p>\n \u2022 Men in high stakes and high skill occupations are almost 1.5 times more likely to die by suicide.<\/p>\n \u2022 People in occupations that don\u2019t require any education after high school are at a higher risk of suicide.<\/p>\n Of course, the culture that exists in most construction companies doesn\u2019t lend itself to talking about feelings either. Many construction workers pride themselves on\u00a0being tough, which prevents them from admitting there\u2019s a problem and stops them from seeking help.<\/p>\n Seasonal unemployment, long hours, and exhaustion can also trigger mental health issues. Unfortunately, many workers go undiagnosed and untreated, making the construction industry in the top nine occupations at risk for suicide.<\/p>\n What The Construction Industry Is Doing<\/strong><\/p>\n The Construction Industry Blueprint<\/a> was created to help managers put protective factors into place to reduce the risk of suicide. The blueprint offers strategies for employers for educating and supporting its employees.<\/p>\n The blueprint is available online and is filled with useful tips to help construction managers change the culture of their workplace so they can reduce the stigma associated with mental health problems.<\/p>\n Supervisors are given scripts to help them talk to someone they believe might be at risk of suicide. Additionally, they\u2019re given ideas about how they can lead the conversation and mental health.<\/p>\n They\u2019re making suicide prevention a top priority in the industry. By educating employees, offering resources to support them, and intervening when a problem exists, it\u2019s likely they\u2019re saving lives.<\/p>\n What You Can Do In Your Organization<\/strong><\/p>\n Don\u2019t assume mental health problems aren\u2019t an issue in your organization. The National Alliance on Mental Illness estimates one in four adults experiences a mental illness. Here\u2019s what you can do in your organization:<\/p>\n \u2022 Start a conversation about mental health. <\/strong>Talk about issues like stress management in your meetings. Be willing to mention the importance of self-care and living a healthy lifestyle. Your employee\u2019s emotional state has a big impact on their productivity and overall life satisfaction.<\/p>\n \u2022 Help employees detect mental health problems early.<\/strong> Many mental health problems go undetected, which causes people to suffer in silence. Encourage employees to access free online screening tools<\/a> and provide in-service trainings with mental health professionals. Statistics show most people will seek treatment once they recognize they may have a problem.<\/p>\n