Written by Christine Preusler for Constructor Magazine
As the world wakes up to the importance of mental health in all walks of life, alarming statistics highlight the need for immediate action in the construction industry.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide rates in the U.S. construction industry are among the highest at 53.2 suicides per 100,000 workers — a figure four times greater than the national average.
Several factors inherent in construction work exacerbate mental health issues. For example, physically demanding tasks and exposure to hazardous conditions can lead to bodily injuries, which not only cause physical pain but may trigger emotional distress, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
As seasonal, weather-dependent work, construction projects often come with job uncertainty and employment fluctuations, causing additional stress and anxiety. Projects that require travel can contribute to feelings of homesickness and isolation.
Using drugs or alcohol as coping techniques to relieve these stressors can worsen mental health issues; industry-wide stigma around mental health, lack of awareness and inadequate support compound the problem.
Addressing mental health in the construction industry requires a multifaceted approach. One force working to combat high suicide rates and improve mental health within the industry
is the Construction Working Minds Summit, an event hosted by the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP) and United Survivors International.
“Construction Working Minds was established as an opportunity for change agents working in the area of mental health and suicide prevention for construction to come together and network and share resources,” said AGC of Washington (AGCW) Safety Director Mandi Kime, who participated in a psychological-safety discussion panel and served as a breakout-room facilitator at the March 29 event in Kansas City.
Kime was on-hand to accept AGCW’s 2023 Mental-Health Visionary of the Year award in the Regional/Chapter Organization category, a designation selected by an independent judging panel to reflect the chapter’s local and national impact on mental health in the construction industry under her leadership.
“I think my chapter was chosen primarily because we have been working in this space for quite a while, and I am a known vocal [mental health] advocate who is not afraid to be the loudest in the room when it comes to matters like this,” Kime said. “I put my money where my mouth is in the sense that I have dedicated time and energy to get a degree that supports this mission, and I have committed to creating free resources and sharing them as broadly as possible.”
Giving a Voice to the Cause
Kime said AGCW began discussing mental health intervention in 2014 after she became inspired by Certified Wellness Practitioner (CWP) Cal Beyer, who was working for an AGCW member firm at the time.
“[Beyer] shared the statistics on suicide rates in construction with me,” Kime said. “I’m a mom of triplets plus one; there is a higher rate of suicide in parents of higher-order multiples. And I have lost several people to suicide, so it hit home for me. As a woman, I knew I was uniquely poised to share my own struggles in an effort to reduce stigma and normalize conversations about mental health in the workplace.”
Over the years, Kime realized that while plenty of data supported the need for mental health awareness in the construction industry, few resources demonstrating how to incorporate mental health and suicide prevention into existing safety and health programming were available. To help remedy that situation, Kime wrote “Best-Practices Guide for Mental-Health Intervention in Construction” for her Master’s Degree thesis at Central Washington University. The guide is now publicly available at www.agcwa.com/mental-health-and-suicide-prevention-resources.
“Since publication of that thesis, I have spoken all over the country to various contractors, contractor groups and fellow AGC chapters on how they can deploy those free resources within their organization to make a difference,” Kime said. “I have been very passionate about not monetizing this cause.”
In 2021, Kime and Vice President of Safety at AGC of Missouri Brandon Anderson collaborated with AGC of America to launch and co-chair the Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Task Force (www.agc.org/mental-health-suicide-prevention), comprised of professionals from across the country.
“As a national task force, our goals are threefold: To create a comprehensive clearinghouse of all free and open-source materials on mental health, suicide prevention and addiction prevention, analyze gaps in existing programming and bridge those gaps by developing
tools and using our advocacy muscle to drive change in the industry,” Kime said.
Through a partnership between AGC and AGCW, Kime also helped create Culture of CARE (www.buildculture.org), an initiative devoted to fostering a diverse, safe, welcoming and
inclusive culture for all construction workers.
“Culture of CARE helps construction employers address employees in the most inclusive way possible,” Kim said. “It was originally grounded in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), but has morphed to include psychological safety.”
The site includes a free diversity and inclusion assessment that allows users to measure progress, analyze results, and download best-practice resources. As the assessment becomes widely used, construction firms will also be able to benchmark their practices
against others.
What You Can Do
Kime suggests construction firms improve team mental health on jobsites and in offices by taking urgent action.
“The biggest piece of advice I have for construction firms is to DO SOMETHING — don’t wait for the perfect tool or program to come along,” she said. “Every company or company culture will require a different entry point to the stream of mental health as a workplace initiative. So, choose something that looks and feels like it could fit in with your existing company culture.”
Kime said any employer can take the following data-backed steps recommended in her thesis:
- Offer training in mental health (focus not just on de-escalation and intervention but also on how to bolster and protect one’s mental health).
- Promote and clarify your employee assistance program and insurance offerings.
- Promote mental health with a safety stand-down event or guest speaker.
- Provide mental health assessment resources.
- Talk about the importance of mental health in meetings and toolbox talks.
- Implement a written program related to the value of mental health and resources available.
- Post onsite fliers related to mental health topics. Finally, consider attending the 2024 Construction Working Minds Summit — work is already underway for next year’s event in Kansas City.