The culture in the construction industry is hindering mental health support, research shows

Construction workers can find it difficult to talk about mental health issues, and suicide among colleagues often comes as a shock. These are the findings of a study from the University of Gothenburg that also links work-related pain to mental illness. The research is published in the news PLOS ONE.

Previous research has shown that male construction workers in Sweden have an up to 50% increased risk of suicide. For countries such as Great Britain and the US, this figure is even higher.

This research is based on interviews with 43 construction workers, union representatives and managers within the Swedish construction industry.

It was emphasized that managers play an important role in mental health. The interviews talked about empathetic and supportive managers, but also about managers who, for example, paid no attention to the psychological problems of their employees.

One of the construction workers said: ‘I indicated that I would not feel my best. The answer was: ‘let’s deal with that later, we have to finish the project first.’ Then the next project begins.”

The research supports the image of the construction industry as demanding, where the working climate in some workplaces is characterized by a macho culture and stigmatization of mental illness.

“Our interviews revealed that many construction workers do not report or seek help when they are feeling mentally unwell, and some self-medicate with alcohol and painkillers. We also see that there is a need for better procedures for dealing with mental illness and clearer social support in the workplace,” says Kristina Aurelius, associate professor at the Sahlgrenska Academy of the University of Gothenburg.

The study participants who had experienced the suicide of a colleague described it as very unexpected. They had noticed no signs that the colleague was feeling depressed or suicidal. They described it as a shocking experience and that it was difficult to understand what had happened.

Working conditions in the construction sector were described as very physically demanding and stressful, which would have a negative effect on both physical and mental health. Study participants reported that the demanding working conditions often cause long-term pain, which in turn can lead to mental health problems and excessive consumption of alcohol and painkillers.