Mental health in the construction industry

The term ‘health’ has evolved over time from referring simply to the body's ability to function, to include physical, mental and social wellbeing. Mental health refers to a person’s psychological and emotional wellbeing.

WHO guidelines on mental health at work, published by the World Health Organization in 2022, defines mental health as: ‘A state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, to realize their abilities, to learn well and work well, and to contribute to their communities. Mental health is an integral component of health and well-being and is more than the absence of mental disorder.’

It suggests that mental health conditions covers: ‘mental disorders and psychosocial disabilities. It also covers other mental states associated with significant distress, impairment in functioning or risk of self-harm. It thus includes significant emotional distress.’

According to the UK’s Mental Health Task Force (2016): 'Mental health problems represent the largest single cause of disability in the UK. The cost to the economy is estimated at £105bn a year – roughly the cost of the entire NHS.'

According to the Centre for Mental Health (2017), 91 million days are lost each year due to mental health problems. The cost to UK employers is estimated at nearly £26bn every year – or £1,035 per employee.

The construction industry has a particular problem with mental health issues, due in part to:

• The high pressure, sometimes physically demanding nature of the work.
• Long hours.
• The transient and unpredictable nature of the work.
• The culture that exists in some parts.
• Working away from home.

The report ‘Suicide by occupation: England: 2011-15’ (Office of National Statistics, 2017) revealed that suicide rates in construction are 3.7 times higher than any other industry.

Mental health issues can include:

• Addictions and other problems with drugs, alcohol, gambling and so on.
• Anger.
• Anxiety.
• Depression.
• Eating disorders.
• Insomnia and other sleeping disorders.
• Loneliness.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
• Personality disorders.
• Self esteem issues.
• Self-harm and suicide.

This can affect:

• Construction workers.
• Other people involved in the construction industry such as consultants and suppliers.
• Building occupants.
• Third parties such as neighbours, passers-by and so on.

Mind have produced 6 mental health core standards that employers should put in place:

• Produce, implement and communicate a mental health at work plan.
• Develop mental health awareness among employees.
• Encourage open conversations about mental health and the support available when employees are struggling.
• Provide employees with good working conditions and ensure they have a healthy work life balance and opportunities for development.
• Promote effective people management through line managers and supervisors.
• Routinely monitor employee mental health and wellbeing.

[edit] A number of articles on Designing Buildings relate specifically mental health issues:

• Burnout.
• Emotional distress.
• Health.
• Heat stress.
• Heritage and mental health.
• Managing stressful issues in construction.
• Mental disorders.
• Mental health and wellbeing.
• Mental health first aid.
• Phobias.
• Psychosocial disability.
• Sick building syndrome / building related illness.
• Wellbeing.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Changing attitudes towards the mental wellbeing of early career Architectural Technology professionals.
• CIOB responds to CITB mental health and wellbeing report.
• Construction Health and Safety Group CHSG.
• Construction leadership for mental health.
• COVID-19 and mental health within construction firms.
• Economic upturn masks mental health crisis in 2021.
• 37% of SMEs suffer mental health problems due to pay issues
• Construction leadership for mental health
• COVID-19 and mental health within construction firms
• Economic upturn masks mental health crisis in 2021
• Emotional distress
• Empowering the construction industry to take action on mental health
• Mental health awareness week
• Mental health first aid
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Psychosocial disability
• Stop Make a Change SMAC-20.
• Tackling mental health issues in construction
• Tackling mental health - 6 point plan
• Understanding and managing workplace stress is critically important to civil engineers.
• Understanding mental health in the built environment.
• World mental health day.

[edit] External references

• David Comiskey MCIAT, Changing attitudes towards the mental wellbeing of early career architectural technology professionals.
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/thriving-at-work-a-review-of-mental-health-and-employers
• https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day