New Report: In Construction Industry, Concern for Mental Health Is High, But Willingness to Discuss Mental Health is Low

As the pandemic continues to impact the economy and mental health of many workers, construction experiences the second highest rate of suicide among major industries. A new survey of the construction workforce from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Foundation’s Center for Workplace Mental Health, the Construction Financial Management Association, CSDZ and Holmes Murphy, calls attention to this issue and offers insights during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

The online survey was launched in March and was answered by 1,175 respondents. Of the primary job function reported by respondents, 29 percent were “CFOs, Controllers or Financial Professionals,” 22 percent were in “Safety/Risk Management,” and 16 percent were “CEOs, Presidents, and Owners.”

Among the key findings:

• 93 percent of all survey respondents recognize addressing mental health at work as a sound business practice, and among presidents, CEOs, and owners, 77 percent indicated it was prioritized at work;
• When asked if workers were likely to seek needed mental health care, only 26 percent indicated they believed workers were likely to seek care, whereas nearly half did not know (43 percent) and nearly a third said workers were unlikely to (31 percent);
• Overall, respondents said their organizations make supervisor training (25 percent) or employee training (25 percent) available; 69 percent identified supervisor training as most helpful and 66 percent identified training for employees as most helpful;
• When asked whether workers would openly discuss mental health with supervisors, only 17 percent responded they would, 37 percent indicated they would not, and almost half of respondents (46 percent) were either undecided or did not know. APA polling of the general public from earlier this year shows a dramatic contrast: nearly 56 percent in that poll indicated they’d be comfortable discussing mental health with their supervisors; and
• Similarly, when asked whether workers would openly discuss mental health with co-workers, only 18 percent agreed, 31 percent disagreed, and more than half (51 percent) were either undecided or did not know. This also indicates a contrast with the APA public polling where 56 percent of respondents indicated they’d be comfortable talking about mental health with colleagues.

The top four reasons for that reticence, according to those polled were:

• Shame and stigma (78 percent);
• Fear of judgment by peers (77 percent);
• Fear of negative consequences (55 percent); and
• Don’t know how to access care (46 percent).

For organizations and businesses seeking help in supporting the mental health of their workforce, APA Foundation’s Center for Workplace Mental Health provides tools, resources and information, and has recently issued toolkits and webinars on COVID-19, remote work and more. The Center recently released NOTICE. TALK. ACT.® at Work, an e-learning training for managers on supporting employees’ mental health needs.

For more information, visit https://workplacementalhealth.org.