Suicide rates within the construction industry continue to be alarming. Our industry is among the highest for deaths by suicide among the UK with construction averaging two suicides a day.

We have come a long way in a short period of time when it comes to our awareness of mental health in construction but we now need to stop putting in-place reactive, short-term remedies and look at the issue in a more proactive manner, addressing the root causes where we can.

As a professional body, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has been actively addressing the issue of poor mental health through several initiatives aimed at raising awareness and providing support to those within the industry. In addition to collaborating with the government to develop support mechanisms and initiatives, CIOB has taken significant steps to understand and spread awareness of the factors contributing to mental health issues.

In 2019, CIOB conducted research to identify the causes of high stress levels in the industry, recognising that prolonged stress can lead to poor mental health. The findings were published in May 2020 in a report titled “Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment”. This report highlighted the state of mental health in the construction sector, revealing that 26% of construction professionals had considered taking their own lives in 2019 (pre-covid), and 97% reported experiencing stress due to factors such as poor working conditions, long working hours, job uncertainty, and inadequate communication.

Poor mental health in the industry can be difficult to deal with because there are so many different factors that can impact people in different ways. This can be exacerbated by the industry’s complex supply chains on projects. We also have to remember that our personal life, can also impact our mental health. Just like our physical health, it isn’t something you can leave at home. This is why many businesses have incorporated a mental health policy, mental health first aiders and an employee assistance programme (EAP) to help provide guidance and support to their workers. This is a great first-step and certainly if it extends to the supply chain it works well for the smaller businesses who do not have the resources or time to implement some of these initiatives. However, we know that this isn’t enough due to the high suicide rates and we need to move towards a place of improving the root cause of the issue to prevent instances where people are losing their lives to suicide.

This may include the way we pay people, the time spent away from home, the reduction of people with zero-hour contracts and improving the workplace culture through policies, procedures and communication channels.

Since the publication of this report, CIOB has continued to advocate for the implementation of workplace strategies to address these stressors. This includes training staff as Mental Health First Aiders, highlighting CIOB Assist which provides support to members and their families, working with government to discuss issues and solutions, in addition to promoting a cultural shift in the construction sector to break down the stigma associated with mental health issues. These efforts are part of a broader push to ensure that mental health is given the same priority as physical health in the construction industry.

By fostering a supportive environment and providing the necessary resources, CIOB aims to create a healthier, more resilient workforce. Together, we can tackle the mental health challenges in the construction industry and pave the way for a brighter, more sustainable future.

I would encourage anyone interested in learning more about mental health and potential root causes in your workplace, to read our research: Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment and follow the industry recommendations included at the end of the report.

Author:

Daisie Barnett​​​​, Policy Development Manager

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