Turning Conversation into Action: Mental Health in Construction

In the construction industry, mental health can be stigmatized and overlooked. Procore hosted a webinar that emphasized the importance of creating a safe and supportive workplace culture that prioritizes mental health and well-being. Moderated by Procore's Director of Industry Transformation, Sasha Reed, the panelists consisted of Fred Mills, founder, The B1M, Brian Murray, CEO, Ryan Companies and Alison Mirams, former CEO, Roberts Co. 

You can watch the full webinar here. 

"What's becoming increasingly clear is that in order for us to fulfill our vision, we must play a part in addressing the mental health crisis," Reed says. "Addressing this issue will take action from both leaders, as well as individuals."

Construction deaths from suicide on the rise

Construction has one of the highest suicide rates of any sector, with suicide taking more lives than all other jobsite fatalities combined. The latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Annual Report on Occupational Injuries revealed a 7% increase in construction fatalities and a 13% increase in suicides from 2021 to 2022. 

The B1M and Procore have teamed up to create a global campaign dedicated to raising awareness of mental health in the construction industry called "Get Construction Talking." Reed says we must move from awareness, into action, when it comes to this issue. 

"If you're watching this and you're leading a business, your team is susceptible to poor mental health and good mental health. Just as you would create a safe working environment for their physical health, we need to do the same to safeguard their mental health and well-being as well. This is a fundamental building brick for you to achieve business success," says Mills, who shared his own experience of suffering from depression and how talking about his feelings helped him rise out of the darkness. 

Mirams shared examples of what actions people can take. Two employee benefits her construction company offered were three mental health days per quarter and $1,000 per year [per employee] to spend on mental health and well-being.

"Something outside of work that makes you a better person will also make you a better person inside of work," Mirams says. 

How to improve mental health in the workplace

Mirams says training is also essential. Individuals need to know the signs to look for, like someone making plans in advance for "not being around," as well as knowing the right things to say when someone discloses their struggles. Mirams adds that shorter work weeks so people can spend more time with their friends and family each week is also proven by medical professionals to aid in mental well-being. 

Murray adds that coworkers have a unique ability to spot the signs of poor mental health while spending five days per week with each other. Murray shared his experience of suffering from depression with his team and says he received an outpouring of support and coworkers sharing their similar experiences. Sharing his story helped give some people the push they needed to seek out help. 

"When leaders at the top share their story and make it real, make it something that is common and nondiscriminatory, the rest of the teams that work in the company will realize that they're in a place where they can get the help they need, and they will," Murray says.