The construction industry is often thought of as having a macho culture with tough men doing hard work. Even as more women have entered the workforce and older perceptions of the sector have faded, construction is not the first sector most would point to as being attuned to mental health issues.
But the numbers tell a different story. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. construction workers reported anxiety or depression in the last year, up from 54% just a year ago, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Arizona’s booming construction industry means more workers, more pressure and more people who need support.
“With safety, we’re always looking at leading indicators. What are the causes? What can I help fix or prevent?” explains Sidney Hawkins, director of apprenticeship for the ABA. “Mental health has become the No. 1 topic. People don’t realize that the death by suicide rate is four times higher in the construction industry than the national average. It’s not just the people in the field either — it’s the whole industry, top to bottom.”
When Hawkins first started working in construction, it was common to be told to “walk it off” or “leave your problems at home.” But today, he says the industry has started to understand the everyone is human and has struggles.
“I’m not just talking about diagnosable conditions. It could be that someone had an argument with their spouse the night before, and they’re carrying that weight with them the next day at work,” Hawkins says. “If you’re a crane operator, you’re in a hazardous situation where you can accidently kill people in a matter of seconds. If your mind is focused on that fight at home, it’s easy to see how mental health challenges equate to safety problems.”
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That’s why the ABA offers a mental health first aid course to help prepare individuals to help when acting quickly is crucial.
“The class teaches you how to engage with someone who is prepared to die by suicide,” Sidney explains. “Just like CPR training teaches you how to perform compressions to keep someone alive until the medical professionals arrive, this course helps you recognize the signs, how to help someone in crisis and how to manage your own mental health in those situations.”
Participants also learn to recognize the signs of mental health issues before they become a crisis. The key is to create a culture where mental health can be discussed without shame.
“I believe there are people, especially old school guys, just waiting for someone to ask how we’re doing,” Hawkins says. “We’re not going to volunteer, but if someone walks up and says, ‘Hey, you seem edgy today, everything going alright?’ Opening the door for someone to share their struggles with you won’t fix the problem, but it gives people the opportunity to get it off their chests.”
Creating this environment of openness, Hawkins continues, requires buy-in from company leadership and workers. That can be a challenge, but he does see a reason to be hopeful.
“When I look at the new generation, they’ve really embraced mental health awareness,” he says. “It’s reassuring to know we’re leaving this industry in good hands, because if we can address a mental health challenge before it becomes a worsening or crisis condition, it could save a life.”
Stopping the mental health stigma
The growing importance of mental health and its impact on safety is why the ABA has established a Mental Health Committee to host events and informational sessions about the topic. Laurie Arnold, owner of Temporary Wall Systems and a family therapist, explains that there is a growing recognition that mental health impacts safety, employee retention and overall performance, but many struggle with moving beyond awareness alone and into practical action.
In April, the ABA hosted a workshop focusing on how mental health challenges surface through absenteeism, disengagement, conflict and turnover. Arnold says that after the event, she was approached by two participants.
“They told me, ‘I love these talks, but I still don’t know what to do about it,’” she recalls. “That’s great feedback, because clearly, we’ve been too conceptual and need to focus on practical applications. How do we actually change company culture?”
Jake Herblan, safety manager for Hensel Phelps, says that hanging banners and posters about mental health awareness can help people access information, but the biggest change maker is having peer-to-peer support.
“People feel more comfortable talking to someone they trust rather than going to a professional,” Herblan says. “A single check-in can change someone’s mindset, so it’s important to create a positive environment where people feel like they can talk about their issues without fear of somehow getting in trouble or being embarrassed.”
Even though mental health issues can grow into life threatening situations, Herblan says establishing that it’s okay to speak about life problems even if they don’t constitute a crisis helps chip away at the stigma.
“You don’t want to start the conversation with, ‘Hey buddy, are you having mental health problems?’ Just ask about how things are going so they feel comfortable speaking to you,” Herblan concludes. “Maybe they don’t open up to you right then and there, but a few days later they might. You never know what impact that may have.”
