Chicago — Nearly 2 out of 3 construction workers in the United States have experienced anxiety or depression in the past year, results of a recent annual survey show.
Design-build firm Clayco commissioned the survey of more than 2,000 construction workers and industry executives, as well as “decision-makers,” regarding mental health.
Among the findings:
- Of the workers, 64% reported experiencing anxiety or depression within the past 12 months. That’s up from 54% last year.
- Almost half the workers (45%) said they felt ashamed to talk about their mental health issues – up from 39%.
- 37% say they’ve been discriminated at work for talking about mental health issues.
“The data makes clear that stigma continues to be a barrier to addressing the mental health issues that are pervasive across the construction industry,” Dan Lester, vice president of field culture and inclusion at Clayco, said in a press release. “If people fear being treated differently for speaking up, they won’t ask for the help they need.”
The findings also show that 44% of the workers have used mental health services in the past 12 months, and 35% have taken prescription medicine to treat a mental health issue.
Among the executives and decision-makers, 48% said they’ve personally experienced anxiety or depression within the past year. Yet, 21% agreed that if an employee came forward to seek mental health services or support, that person would be less likely to be assigned important tasks. Further, roughly 30% indicated that the worker would be “more closely monitored” on the job.
“For an industry that has made huge strides in improving and promoting the physical safety of our workers, it is time that we focus, collectively, on addressing the mental health and psychological safety issues faced by the entire construction sector,” Clayco CEO Anthony Johnson said in the release. “As leaders, we need to use this moment to take responsibility for creating the best possible work and support environments.
“That means not just treating cases when they arise, but making sure every worker feels valued, supported and able to thrive. If we commit to that, we can begin to reduce the number of people in our industry who are carrying this weight alone.”
