From the Field

World Mental Health Day: Prioritizing a Healthy Mind in the Construction Industry

Construction workers face various challenges on the job, including tight deadlines, difficult projects, and their personal life outside of work. These pressures can not only affect individual performance but also team dynamics and overall safety.

There is growing concern about the mental health of construction employees. According to a 2020 report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the construction industry has the second-highest suicide rate among all major industries in the U.S.

Research indicates that up to 90% of individuals who die by suicide have a mental health condition. Anxiety and depression are the most common, but other conditions such as substance use disorders and trauma, may also contribute to higher suicide rates.

At Knutson, we understand the importance of taking a comprehensive approach to safety, which includes prioritizing the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of our team members.

We heard from some of our team members on how to prioritize your mental health and how to help others who may be struggling.

Wally is a Safety Manager who has worked in the industry for 33 years. Having a family member who has struggled with mental illness has given him the awareness to acknowledge the signs and provide support for those he works with, encouraging open communication on each of our job sites.

Kayla has been a carpenter on one of our recent healthcare projects and shared with us her insight on the ability to have ‘courageous conversations’ concerning mental health in the field. She acknowledges how something that may seem like a small interaction, can build into a larger culture of normalizing mental health conversations in our industry.

Bob Swanson, a volunteer for NAMI, has spoken at over 200 events, sharing the story of losing his oldest son Michael to suicide. With 45 years of industry experience, Bob has learned to recognize when others are struggling. He shared with our teams the importance of not only being aware of the warning signs, but also taking actions to provide them with the help they need. One part of that is having these difficult conversations with an open mind and listening without judgment.

Because only 40 percent of people who have a mental illness get the help they need, it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms:

-Feelings of hopelessness, despair, irritability, and difficulty sleeping

-Increased conflict

-Chronic pain & Fatigue

-Shame and fear of judgment

-Decreased productivity

-Isolation

-Risky behaviors and or excessive use of drugs or alcohol

-Difficulty concentrating

While getting help looks different for everyone, here are some important resources:

NAMI Help Line

Call: 1-800-950-6264