Construction and Mental Health - Breaking the Stigma

Challenges to Mental Health in the Construction Industry

While some mental health challenges span industries, others are more prevalent in those who work in construction. Construction mental health awareness starts with issues that can include:

• Fear for physical safety. Construction work is often dangerous and carries the risk of physical harm. In 2022, more construction workers died on the job than in any other industry. Workers carry risks of increased stress and anxiety over dangerous jobs. They may suffer worsened mental health after being or seeing someone else injured.
• Chronic pain. When an injury does occur, it often results in chronic pain, which can increase the risk of anxiety and depression.
• Stigma. Negative mental health stigmas in the workplace are common on construction sites: Shame and stigma were the top reasons not to seek help for 78% of construction workers surveyed according to the Center for Workplace Mental Health.
• High suicide risk. The rate of suicide in the construction industry has reached critical levels. Construction faces the second highest suicide rate out of all major industries, after mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction. The high-stress job combined with the excessive stigma against seeking help makes suicide seem like the only option for many.
• Demographic factors. Workers may experience additional stresses or stigmas depending on their demographics. Multiracial people are the most likely to have a mental illness and not receive the help they need. Women are more likely to seek mental health assistance than men. Asian people are less likely to receive mental health services than any other racial group.

McCarthy's Integrated Approach to Construction Industry Mental Health

McCarthy Holdings, Inc., one of America’s largest employee-owned companies is working to break stigmas surrounding mental health to better meet the needs of employees, the craft workforce and their families.

As an established member of Construction Safety Week, McCarthy aims to create more discussion around mental health awareness, acceptance and treatment options. This initiative establishes collaborative strategies and practices across McCarthy’s safety, human resources and operations teams. All three teams are working together under the umbrella of the firm’s award-winning Build for Life health and wellness program.

“As one of America’s leading construction companies, we believe it is our responsibility to set the precedent for expanding mental health awareness and increasing conversations to help more people get the assistance they need,” said Scott Wittkop, McCarthy's president and chief operating officer (COO).

How McCarthy is Addressing Mental Health

McCarthy has taken a thorough approach to increasing mental health awareness and wellness programs throughout the company. Steps to integration have included:

Step 1: Increasing Awareness

On job sites, McCarthy is distributing hard hat stickers with important contact information to all employees.  Company leaders are conducting meaningful discussions with all teams about the company’s approach to mental health, including providing immediately available resources. This has created a more open dialogue about mental health throughout the company.

Step 2: Making Resources Available

As part of the expanded outreach, McCarthy’s team developed new and updated materials, resources and tools to emphasize and support mental health awareness on job sites and in offices. Materials are available at any time. Employees can easily access talks on mental health, suicide prevention strategies and signage to increase awareness. Helpful information is available for all employees and their families through the McCarthy Employee Assistance Program (EAP).  This program – which complements McCarthy’s telemedicine mental health services and peer-support services – is just the beginning. Future plans range from increasing support and available training to creating a mental health crisis response system. 

Step 3: Continuing to Learn More

McCarthy intends to proactively evaluate resources to help employees and their families understand and take advantage of mental health resources.

Step 4: Spreading the Word and Bringing Care to Construction Communities

Because McCarthy recognizes that sharing information benefits everyone, the company is open to distributing its approach and methods to companies or organizations in any industry. McCarthy’s president has stated, “as a community builder, McCarthy believes that investing in mental health awareness, acceptance and treatment not only benefits our employee-owners, craft professionals and their families, but also the communities where we live and work.” 

Increasing Mental Health Awareness in Construction and Beyond

As mental health awareness grows, the need for increased support and resources in many industries has become even more apparent. In construction, an industry with a history of anxiety and stress over potentially dangerous working conditions and negative stigmas surrounding mental health, McCarthy has made it a mission to cut through the stigma and prioritize support and awareness. President and COO of McCarthy, Scott Witkop, has highlighted the importance of mental health support within the company, and the impact beyond the jobsite, “just like the critical importance of safety on our job sites, the overall health and well-being of our employees and their families directly impact our ability to deliver a great experience on our projects and is vital for the long-term success of our company and industry. Elevating the focus on mental health benefits us all.”

About McCarthy Holdings

McCarthy Holdings, Inc. is comprised of McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. and Castle Contracting. Repeatedly honored as a Best Place to Work and Healthiest Employer, McCarthy is ranked the 9th largest domestic builder (Engineering News-Record, May 2020). With approximately 5,000 salaried employees and craft professionals, the firm has offices in St. Louis; Atlanta; Collinsville, Ill.; Kansas City, Kan.; Omaha, Neb.; Phoenix; Las Vegas; Denver; Dallas; Houston; San Diego; Newport Beach; San Francisco; San Jose and Sacramento, Calif. McCarthy is 100 percent employee-owned.