Mental Health Awareness Month: Construction Mental Health Statistics and Resources

Mental health affects everyone regardless of where they work. However, those in the construction industry often face significant barriers to care. 

These barriers are sometimes financial. They also stem from the false belief that seeking help for such disorders signifies weakness. Although the stigma is fading, continued awareness and education about the reality of mental health disorders can encourage those struggling to seek treatment. Here’s what construction workers should know about mental health — and how to find help. 

Mental Health Statistics 

Poor mental health affects millions of Americans. Between 2021-2022, 23% of adults experienced a mental illness, while 5% seriously contemplated suicide. 

Unfortunately, finding care isn’t easy. 10% of adults with mental illness lack insurance. Even for those with coverage, finding quality help can be tough. With 340 people for each mental health provider in the United States, therapists and psychiatrists spread themselves thin trying to accommodate the growing need. 

Those in the construction industry may be uninsured in disproportionate numbers because many function as independent contractors. That means they don’t receive employee benefits, including health insurance. Those classified as 1099 independent contractors are self-employed, meaning they are responsible for obtaining their own coverage. 

While the Affordable Care Act made it easier for self-employed individuals to do so, many still find it too expensive. The most affordable plans on the Healthcare Marketplace often feature high copays and deductibles that make it less costly to take the potential tax hit and go without coverage. While you can pay for mental health care out of pocket, doing so may narrow your choices of available providers.

What Are the Most Common Mental Health Concerns Affecting the Construction Industry?

The additional barriers to care harm construction industry workers, 83% of whom reported a mental health struggle in 2020. Laborers in this sector have the highest rates of suicide across occupational groups. The most frequently cited concerns are: 

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Substance abuse — 12% of construction workers report alcohol use disorder, compared to 7.5% nationally, and 11.6% report using illicit drugs within the past month. 

What Causes Mental Health Concerns Among Construction Workers? 

Mental illnesses result from a complex interplay of genetic and epigenetic factors, environmental pressures and lifestyle choices. It’s often impossible to pinpoint a singular cause. Many of these influences lie outside your realm of control. For example, living in a city far from green spaces can negatively impact your mental health. Still, you might need to live there for economic reasons or access to services not available in more rural locations. 

Some of the factors influencing mental health concerns among construction workers include:

• Inequality, including living in poverty, belonging to an ethnic-racial minority or identifying as LGBTQ+. Such individuals may find helping resources out of reach or out of touch with their needs and may face added pressures from discrimination on the job. 
• Lack of education about healthy intervention strategies such as gardening and the role physical health plays in supporting mental health. For example, eating probiotic-rich foods may ease anxiety and depression via the gut-brain axis, but few construction workers get continuing education classes on the importance of consuming yogurt and fermented foods. 
• Extraordinary work pressures, including the risk of on-the-job injury. Construction workers have the highest rates of death on the job of any profession, and the daily pressure of remembering multiple safety procedures can create inordinate stress. 

Effects of Untreated Mental Health Concerns in the Workplace

Unfortunately, untreated mental health concerns can spill over into the workplace and create more problems. For example, brain fog is a common symptom of stress and depression. This condition makes clear thinking difficult, making workers more prone to on-the-job accidents and the resulting injuries. Worse, the anxiety that they may cause harm to others can create a vicious cycle of anxiety that makes it tough to clock in each morning. 

Besides increasing the risk of workplace injury, untreated mental health concerns in the workplace also increase turnover. High turnover rates increase stress on the remaining workforce and cause employers to spend a lot of time and money training new talent. Doing so can cost companies more than twice a valued employee’s annual salary, making it worth it for employers to offer mental health resources when available. 

Where Can Those in the Construction Industry Turn for Help?

If you work in the construction industry and feel concerned about your mental health, the following resources may offer the help you need. 

1. Paid Resources 

If you have health insurance coverage, contact your insurer for a list of qualified mental health professionals in your network. Fortunately, telemedicine has made such treatment more available, and you may be able to find therapy appointments from the comfort of your home. 

Additionally, numerous mental health apps provide meaningful interventions, including regular phone conversations with licensed therapists. Some of the best ones to investigate include: 

• Talkspace: Offers therapy, medication management, personalized treatment and unlimited messaging. It also accepts some insurance. 
• Better Help: Offers video, phone, live chat and messaging for $65 to $90 per week. 
• Cerebral: Offers therapy, medication and both, with convenient online scheduling. Accept some insurance and costs roughly half a typical in-person visit. 

2. Free Resources 

YouTube is a surprisingly good mental health resource. When selecting a channel, seek those run by licensed mental health providers, as indicated in the description. 

Top-down mental health interventions include journaling and workbooks such as The Substance Abuse and Recovery Workbook and online and in-person support groups. Bottom-up therapies that ease your nervous system into healing mode include: 

• Yoga
• Meditation
• Mindfulness — not the same as meditation 
• Exercise
• Dietary interventions
• Engaging in healthy hobbies, like art, gardening, hiking, photography or fishing

Mental Health Awareness and the Construction Industry

Mental health issues affect everyone and may hit those who work in construction especially hard. Seeking help prevents you from suffering while improving your ability to function on the job. 

The content provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.