Construction Worker Mental Health: The Hidden Risk?
World Suicide Prevention Day was marked by many on September 10, while Suicide Prevention Month continues right through September. It’s a time for us all to stop and realise that there are so many people out there going through invisible struggles.
In just a few short weeks, we’ll soon be into October; time is passing by, but what’s changing when it comes to suicide rates among construction workers? And what can be done to combat it?
The Risk That’s Not Being Seen?
When we think about health & safety in the construction industry, we likely think about risk assessments, safety observations, an injury manager tool, and toolbox talks. These are all important and effective ways in which hazards can be accounted for and removed, injuries can be tracked and documented, and important refreshers can be given to those on site.
Thankfully, there are a whole host of ways to reduce physical risk for construction workers and triage how we respond to them, but what about the mental health challenges that face these workers? Can the same be said for that aspect of construction worker safety?
Health and safety tools, which FlexManager are proud to provide, are really important for mitigating physical risk. But it could be argued that mental health is the risk that’s not being seen. Part of the challenge is that physical hazards have a clear owner and a clear checklist, while mental health struggles rarely announce themselves so plainly, making them easier to overlook.
Simple steps, like making space for a genuine check-in during a toolbox talk, pivoting a safety observation to discuss mental health, or using an employee bulletin to ensure workers know where to turn for support, cost very little but can make a real difference to someone who’s struggling in silence. And FlexManager provides each of these modules you can tailor to triage these challenges
Statistics That, Unfortunately, Don’t Lie
Almost everywhere you look, the numbers of construction workers that either commit suicide or self-harm is not good reading. In Canada, recent figures from the Residential Construction Council of Ontario indicated that the suicide rate among construction workers is almost four times the national average.
In the UK, data continues to paint a tragic narrative regarding suicide rates among construction workers. It’s a similar story here with the suicide rate among male construction workers also standing at almost four times the national average.
Closer to home in Ireland, the Construction Industry Federation found through a study that almost a quarter of construction workers who are men have experienced suicidal thoughts. The trend is clear to see, but what’s less clear is when it’s going to stop.
Will 2027 Tell a Different Story?
It’s encouraging to see campaigns like World Suicide Prevention Day taking centre stage on September 10th, and it’s an important way to raise awareness about suicide, generally speaking. That said, the figures mentioned above prove that there is still lots of work left to do to reduce the numbers of those committing suicide in the construction industry.
Mental health is a fragile thing, and with the long hours and lack of work-life balance that can plague the construction industry, it’s so easy to see why many construction workers experience mental health challenges. As we look ahead to 2027, here at FlexManager, we’re asking the question: what is going to change, and how do we all work together as health & safety (and occupational safety) professionals to put more of a focus on the mental health risks and challenges these workers face? Because we can’t continue to accept these numbers as part of our everyday; something needs to change.
