There is a rising understanding of the need for mental health support in the construction industry.
The National Institute of Mental Health estimated in 2020 that one in five adults (52.9 million) in the U.S. lives with a mental illness. Notably for the construction industry, the CDC considers construction workers at a higher risk of suicide than workers in most other industries.
According to Wesley Wheeler, NECA's executive director of safety, “Transient work sites, traveling for work, extended unemployment and increased pressure to produce have increased employee issues on the job in dealing with companies and the stress that causes on family life at home." These stressors and others can lead to increased risk of mental health concerns for construction workers.
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR has published numerous articles that discuss mental health concerns and how the construction industry is addressing them. We've assembled these articles into a resource page, which you can access by selecting "Topics" in the navigation menu and clicking on "Mental Health Resources" or by clicking the button below.
If you or someone you know is in crisis and would like emotional support, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 to speak to a trained counselor. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) also offers a resource page with other ways to find help.
About The Author
Colleen Beaty
Senior EditorColleen Beaty is senior editor at ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR Magazine, where she has worked since 2020. She has been writing about topics such as outside line work, wildlife and habitat conservation for more than 18 years. In her role with ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR, she primarily works with the editorial team to fine-tune stories for the magazines and curate content for ECmag.com. She can also be found hosting ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR's webinars. She holds a BS in wildlife conservation from the University of Delaware.
Colleen is fueled by tea (especially chai), and can often be found cross-stitching or birding in her spare time (but not both at once).
Reach her on LinkedIn or at [email protected].
