Mental health is a crucial aspect of our overall well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and it influences how we handle stress and make decisions. Despite its significance, mental health is often overlooked, especially in the construction industry where suicide rates are the second highest among major industries. Construction workers are exposed to a wide range of physical and mental demands, such as long hours and high-pressure deadlines, that can have a significant impact on their mental health. Workers in this industry are also more likely to experience physical injuries, which can lead to chronic pain and mental health issues. The stigma surrounding mental health can also prevent workers from seeking help, leading to a lack of treatment.
At T.W. Frierson, we recognize employers have a crucial role to play in promoting mental health awareness by providing training and resources to help workers recognize and manage mental health issues. We offer employee assistance programs and are working hard to break the stigmas associated with talking about mental health and well-being. We are intentional about planning downtime for all our employee-owners in an effort to combat the impacts of fatigue and burn-out that we so often face in the construction industry.
Our core purpose is to create a foundation for people to thrive and promoting mental health awareness helps us create a safer, healthier, and more productive workplace. As an employer, we have a responsibility to our workers and industry peers to raise awareness about mental health in the construction industry, and we must advocate and work together to ensure that mental health is not overlooked in this critical sector.
For more information and resources visit: https://workplacementalhealth.org/employer-resources/guides-and-toolkits/mental-health-and-well-being-in-the-construction-i