The Hidden Crisis of Mental Health in the Construction Industry
The focus of the construction industry is frequently on its physical demands—the long hours, challenging environments, and the need for precision and safety on every project. What often goes unnoticed is the mental strain that comes with the job and a workforce grappling with stress, anxiety, and emotional fatigue.
For many construction workers, the mental health challenges they face are as significant as the physical ones, yet far less visible. Research shows that construction has one of the highest rates of suicide among all industries, and workers are disproportionately affected by stress, anxiety, and substance use.
Despite these challenges, mental health in the construction industry remains a largely overlooked topic. It’s often shrouded by stigma and a "toughness" culture that discourages vulnerability. Yet, addressing mental health in the construction industry is essential—not only for the well-being of workers but also for the safety, productivity, and sustainability of the entire industry.
What is the status of mental health in the construction industry?
The construction industry, while vital to the economy and infrastructure, is grappling with a mental health crisis that often goes unnoticed. The nature of the work, combined with cultural and systemic factors, has created a challenging environment for addressing mental health in the construction industry.
Construction workers face a combination of stressors that can take a significant toll on their mental health, including tight deadlines, demanding work environments, and job insecurity.
Projects often come with unrelenting timelines, leaving little room for error or delays. The work often entails long hours, physical labor, extreme weather conditions, and noisy job sites, which contribute to exhaustion and burnout. Plus, the cyclical nature of the industry and reliance on contracts mean workers frequently face uncertainty about long-term employment.
The issues involving mental health in the construction industry don’t just affect individuals—they have a ripple effect across the entire industry.
Poor mental health can lead to increased workplace accidents as stress, fatigue, and distraction heighten the risk of injuries on job sites, as well as declining productivity and labor shortages. Mental health struggles contribute to absenteeism, presenteeism, and decreased work performance. High turnover rates and difficulty retaining talent make it harder to sustain a healthy workforce.
The industry’s “toughness” culture discourages workers from showing vulnerability or seeking help. There can be a stigma around mental health, which is often seen as a personal weakness rather than a legitimate health issue. Many workers and employers lack awareness of the signs of mental health issues or the resources available to address them. On job sites, especially in remote areas, access to mental health support or Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) is often limited.
What is the impact of poor mental health in the construction industry?
The crisis of mental health in the construction industry is significant and concerning.
The construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates among professions — 6,000 construction workers died by suicide in 2022. According to the Construction Industry Rehabilitation Plan, 83 percent of construction industry workers have struggled with stress and mental illness. In the U.S., male construction workers are nearly four times more likely to die by suicide than the general population, according to CDC data.
Workers often face chronic stress due to tight deadlines, long hours, job insecurity, and the physical demands of the job, which contribute to high levels of anxiety and emotional exhaustion. To cope with stress, anxiety, or depression, many workers turn to alcohol or drugs, leading to addiction and further mental health deterioration. These mental health struggles often lead to physical health problems, such as fatigue, chronic pain, or weakened immune systems, due to high stress and poor self-care.
Mental health issues can directly compromise safety in an industry where hazards are already high. Stress, anxiety, and fatigue impair cognitive function, which leads to mistakes or lapses in judgment. Workers who are mentally distracted or under the influence of substances are more likely to cause or experience accidents. Mental health struggles also can hinder effective communication, which is critical in maintaining job site safety.
The cumulative effect of mental health challenges also threatens the long-term viability of the construction industry. High turnover, reduced productivity, and safety risks hinder the industry’s ability to remain competitive. The ripple effect of issues related to mental health in the construction industry—including accidents, lost projects, and financial strain—can slow the growth and innovation of the entire construction sector.
What are the barriers to addressing mental health in the construction industry?
In the construction industry, workers may avoid seeking help due to concerns about being judged by peers or labeled as unfit for the job. This stigma creates a significant barrier to open conversations about mental health in the construction industry.
Many workers and employers lack the knowledge to recognize the signs of mental health issues, such as stress, anxiety, or depression. Supervisors and managers often aren’t trained to address mental health concerns or to create supportive workplace environments. While office-based employees—for example, engineers—may have more consistent access to mental health programs, they often feel removed from on-site initiatives. They may not see themselves as part of the same support system.
While managers and superintendents are more likely to have exposure to discussions about mental health in the construction industry, they may lack the training to address it effectively within their teams. Some may focus solely on productivity, missing the deeper impacts of stress and burnout. This divide creates a lack of cohesion in addressing mental health. Each group experiences different stressors but has few opportunities to communicate or work collectively toward solutions.
Many construction sites employ diverse teams where English may not be the first language for a significant portion of the workforce. Mental health resources, however, are often available only in English, making them inaccessible to non-native speakers. Language barriers can also impede communication between laborers and managers, making it difficult for workers to express concerns or for managers to offer appropriate support.
What strategies can improve mental health in the construction industry?
Improving mental health in the construction industry requires a multifaceted approach that tackles stigma, enhances access to resources, and fosters a culture of openness and support.
Below are a few actionable strategies tailored to the industry's unique challenges.
- Bring in outside speakers/trainers for mindfulness and well-being training
Construction workers value authenticity, experience, and direct communication. Bringing in an outside expert—someone who understands the demands of the job, speaks their language, and provides practical tools—can be a game-changer. Whether it’s through on-site workshops or peer-led programs, outside messengers bridge the gap between company goals and real-world implementation.
Wellness and neuroscience professionals, like Dorsey Standish, CEO of Dallas-based wellness company Mastermind, offer proven tools and strategies to reduce stress, manage burnout, and foster emotional resilience. By collaborating with these individuals, companies ensure workers receive accessible, practical, and industry-relevant support.
By partnering with the right outside voice—like Dorsey Standish, who has experience working with firms such as HITT Contracting and Turner Construction—companies can foster a workplace culture where mental health is taken seriously. Mental health in the construction industry is related to and affects physical safety, improving morale, retention, and overall job site well-being.
Speakers and trainers like Dorsey can also provide emotional intelligence and team cohesion training, which builds stronger bonds among teams. It also contributes to wellness and productivity, as well as your organization’s bottom line. - Train leaders as mental health advocates
It’s important to equip managers, superintendents, and foremen with training to recognize signs of struggles concerning mental health in the construction industry and to provide support. This includes knowing how to connect workers to resources and fostering a supportive work environment.
Multiple studies show that when construction teams and project managers possess high emotional intelligence they have more team effectiveness, cohesion, and overall project success.
Research also shows that emotionally intelligent leadership is crucial for effective team management and overall organizational success. Highly emotionally intelligent leaders enhance team cohesion, performance, and job satisfaction, fostering a positive work environment, according to a 2023 review that combined insights from 104 peer-reviewed articles. - Collaborate with industry partners
By working with trusted partners, like the Construction Industry Association for Suicide Prevention, companies can access proven mental health solutions and reach workers with resources that are culturally relevant, relatable, and actionable.
The Construction Industry Association for Suicide Prevention’s tools and resources can be used to help integrate suicide prevention into your company’s culture.
These organizations and events, such as the Construction Working Minds Summit, reinforce consistent messaging around mental health, making it a normalized and integral part of workplace culture.
What are some successful initiatives that have enhanced mental health in the construction industry?
Several successful initiatives have emerged to address and enhance mental health in the construction industry. These programs, facilitated by wellness experts like Dorsey Standish, focus on reducing stigma, increasing awareness, improving access to resources, and fostering supportive work environments.
- Mindfulness for mental health
By focusing on techniques such as meditation, breathwork, and body awareness, mindfulness helps individuals regulate their emotions, reduce anxiety, and respond more constructively to challenges. Mindfulness has had a growing and positive influence on mental health in the construction industry, helping workers and leaders to manage stress, improve focus, and enhance overall well-being.
In a program Dorsey Standish recently completed for Turner Construction, team members reported that they appreciated the combination of inspiration, practice, and social connection. During one session, team members' self-reported stress levels decreased 32 percent, from an average of 5.8 out of 10 to an average of 4 out of 10, within the first 20 minutes. - On-site team building and emotional intelligence training
In industries like construction, where stress levels are high and teams are often diverse, these trainings address communication barriers, improve conflict resolution, and promote mental health awareness.
Team building activities are structured exercises or events aimed at strengthening collaboration, trust, and camaraderie within a group. For example, emotional intelligence training focuses on developing the ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions in oneself and others.
During a recent program Dorsey Standish completed at HITT San Antonio’s data center site, in a survey of training attendees with 25 responses showed that: - 100% of attendees found the sessions valuable and would like to re-attend
- 94% of attendees found the content educational and informative, appreciating the science included
- 95% of attendees find the content engaging, citing the games and activities as a core part of learning and enjoying themselves
- 94% of attendees found the content actionable, showing the potential for immediate impact
- Building mental resilience certification
This formal training program is designed to teach individuals and teams the skills and strategies needed to cope with stress, adapt to challenges, and maintain mental well-being in high-pressure environments. The certification typically involves structured courses, workshops, or online modules that focus on cultivating resilience through a combination of psychological, emotional, and practical techniques.
In the construction industry, earning this certification equips participants with tools to navigate adversity effectively while fostering a healthier, more supportive workplace culture.
Dorsey Standish has partnered with safety professionals as well as Athletic Training Solutions (ATS), which provides industrial sites with expert athletic trainers and onsite health and wellness support, to provide the certification.
During recent work with ATS, trainees showed significant downward trend in their perceived stress level over six weeks in the program and reported positive feedback from initial clients.
Dorsey and her company Mastermind Meditate certified ATS trainers in building mental resilience so that they can support their clients with not just physical wellness, but also mental strength and flexibility.
Connection to Dorsey’s Work
We’ve mentioned Dorsey Standish throughout this article. Here’s more about her and her connection to mental health in the construction industry.
Dorsey Standish is a mechanical engineer, neuroscientist, keynote speaker, and wellness expert with a unique ability to connect with the construction industry. Her background in engineering gives her firsthand insight into the high-pressure, fast-paced work environments that define the trades, while her expertise in mindfulness and brain health provides practical tools to improve mental health in the construction industry.
As the CEO of Mastermind, a Dallas-based mental wellness company, Dorsey delivers science-backed brain training programs to organizations nationwide. She has worked with leading companies like Deloitte, Hilton, and FedEx, as well as educational institutions like the University of North Texas at Dallas and the Dallas Independent School District. In construction, Dorsey has worked with firms HIIT Contracting and Turner. Dorsey’s programs address stress, burnout, and mental fatigue—challenges that are all too common in the construction industry where long hours, physical demands, and tight deadlines take a toll.
Dorsey’s credentials include a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of Texas at Dallas. She is also certified as a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher through Brown University, combining scientific expertise with practical tools for stress management. Her teachings draw on years of experience attending multi-day silent meditation retreats with renowned instructors, offering a depth of knowledge that’s both relatable and actionable.
Dorsey has inspired audiences at top organizations, including Staples, Toyota, Meta, Pier One, and American Airlines. Whether she’s speaking to construction executives, project managers, or site teams, her mission remains the same: to empower professionals with mindfulness-based strategies that reduce stress, enhance focus, and build resilience.
Recognized as a top Dallas keynote speaker, Dorsey is known for delivering engaging, results-driven keynotes that resonate with ambitious, high-performing teams. Her use of tools like Talkadot survey software allows her to gather audience feedback and demonstrate real-time impact.
Learn more about Mastermind’s programs that boost mental health in the construction industry and be sure to schedule a call to explore how she can help improve mental health and wellness in your construction team, company, or conference.