Evelyn Long discusses the state of mental health in construction and the culture around it – and why it might need to change
When people think of construction, they often imagine teams full of strength and competence. To maintain that high performance, these groups require thorough behind-the-scenes preparation to support their health and well-being.
Unfortunately, safety culture and protocols tend to overlook the importance of emotional safety.
The state of safety culture in construction
A safety-first culture is often upheld in high-risk industries such as construction. Both the government and numerous organisations impose laws and regulations governing employers’ safety measures. However, almost all mandates are focused more on physical safety.
From wearing personal protective equipment to installing site signage, these guidelines primarily focus on ensuring each worker’s physical well-being. There’s rarely a spotlight on emotional safety when discussing safety culture.
However, it’s important to realise that companies can’t have one without the other, since physical and emotional safety are closely related. A study found that emotional management can affect how accurately workers identify and react to safety hazards. Keeping a clear head and neutral emotions is pertinent to staying alert and keeping the physical self safe.
Unfortunately, a key reason why emotional safety and the concept of mental health are missing in safety culture in the construction context comes down to its stigmatisation.
The effects of stigma around mental health in the industry
Some may argue that the stigmatisation of mental health has passed as more careers acknowledge its importance in their respective fields. However, in the construction industry, it can still be taboo to discuss. Many employees expect teams to accept the long hours, physical strain, and other stressors as part of the job.
Because of that notion, employees in the industry feel the need to appear strong. However, building up emotional walls can lead to isolation, which further perpetuates the long-lasting impacts of stigmatising mental health.
Discrimination against individuals and minorities
The UK construction scene is no stranger to discrimination. A study found that 86% of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) employees in the industry already experience racial discrimination within their workplaces, which actually negatively impacts their mental health.
Workers may also face discrimination for admitting any mental health struggles if there are no safeguards in place. While some may receive little to no help, others may face adverse impacts, such as experiencing different treatment.
Managers may become less likely to assign important tasks to a worker if they have sought out mental health support. Employers start monitoring workers on the job because they expect productivity to stagnate and may even worry about accidents and liability.
Driving away newer and younger hires
Any stigmas surrounding mental health can seem a little less attractive to newer job seekers. With 91% of construction companies struggling to find new employees, the industry also lacks a younger workforce as more skilled employees retire with few replacements.
Changing the emotional safety culture can be difficult when fewer people are present to propel the movement forward. That shortage can also contribute to the lack of available labour and to tedious, long work schedules that can affect people’s mental health.
Fostering anxiety and depression
Construction operations have always been stressful, making it hard for anyone to regulate their emotions. In 2025, 83% of construction workers experienced anxiety, while 60% experienced depression.
Some of the top factors that contributed toward moderate and extreme levels of stress are the high volume of work and a lack of communication. Poor planning, unrealistic deadlines and inadequate staffing were also cited as key reasons.
Increasing suicide rate
More than 700 construction workers die due to suicide every year in the UK, which accounts for up to two deaths every working day.
Having the right mental health procedures and building emotional safety in the construction space can help people work through their struggles.
The Importance of Promoting Emotional Safety
Promoting emotional safety in the construction industry can take time, but it can help provide a better working experience and greater emotional security for workers. Here’s an overview of why it needs to be a top priority.
Minimising safety risks
Mental health problems can often cloud one’s mind, which can create human error or unsafe behaviours during construction projects. It can even push individuals to the brink of suicide.
Emotional safety can translate into mental clarity, which is a must-have in an industry prone to accidents and fatalities. With neutral emotions and a clearer head, employees can make fast decisions that keep them safe.
Cultivating relationships
Work relationships are vital, especially in the construction industry, where employees frequently interact with one another. Trust is critical to strengthening those bonds and keeping project progress moving.
Workers with good, fair, or poor general health are already more likely to share their symptoms and medication with others than those with excellent health. They need someone who will listen to them without fear of being dismissed.
Shaping a stronger work culture
A work culture centred on emotional safety isn’t just about the ability to share feelings. It can also look like team members feel safe asking questions or changing processes without being ridiculed by peers.
Emotional safety can also be the peace of mind that site managers will react positively to project errors or bad news without immediately blaming their workers. Prioritising employee well-being can bring everyone together and strengthen the team.
Improving productivity and reputation
When problems plague workers’ minds, it can be hard to focus, and people may even feel burnt out. Offering emotional safety can help highlight the importance of collaboration. When people start to lean on one another, it’s easier to focus on innovation and productivity.
Building a company reputation that cares about its employees can also help attract skilled workers to join the team. With more hands on board, it can be easier to distribute the work and ease the burden on current employees.
Ways to build and maintain emotional safety
Building and maintaining emotional safety within a construction team requires both thought and action. Here are possible solutions companies can adopt in their workspaces.
1. Improve leadership and management training
Change starts at the top, and establishing emotional safety means teaching supervisors its importance and what the concept entails. It’s also good to encourage employees to talk about their own personal struggles to show they can share those sentiments.
Providing resources on how to recognise early signs of stress can be helpful to pull back employees before their mental health worsens. Teach them how to have conversations that are sensitive to these topics while addressing them with grace.
2. Encourage on-site communication
Open communication is the key to creating emotional safety. While it may take time to come naturally, some programmes can help. For instance, conducting “toolbox talks” opens the floor to anyone who wants to raise concerns or discuss site risks.
It’s also possible to establish anonymous boxes or confidential reporting channels for employees who may seem more hesitant to voice their issues. The more opportunities they have to speak out, the greater the likelihood of long-term connection and communication.
Some managers may feel that certain initiatives receive no feedback, and that’s entirely valid. Engagement levels can vary depending on the strategy and action plan the organisation follows.
However, take it as an opportunity to explore other solutions that may work for the organisation. After all, every team is different.
3. Address specific pain points
Many factors can affect mental health in construction, and mitigating some of them can help workers feel much more seen. For instance, many report feeling too stressed because they receive too much work.
Construction work can feel heavy due to staffing shortages. Operating certain equipment can allow one person to do a job that would have required multiple workers. Companies can also look into seasonal construction contractors to lighten the load.
Physical exhaustion is another factor that can make work overwhelming. Combat this by providing rest areas and other on-site recovery options. Managers should also advocate for regularly scheduled breaks to help employees recuperate.
4. Consider worker well-being in project planning
There are many decisions in project planning that leaders can make in their employers’ favour. For instance, set up safety culture training programmes ahead of a construction project that cover topics such as emotional safety and open communication.
Propose a longer and more realistic project timeline as well. Some workers feel anxious and stressed due to tight deadlines. Removing that constant fear and replacing it with the peace of mind to rest when needed is a weight off their shoulders.
5. Provide access to resources
Health insurance should include mental health support so that workers can seek the professional help they need. Some policies may exclude preexisting medical conditions, such as mental health problems, so remember to read the fine print.
Another alternative is to set up employee assistance programmes centred around mental health. Organisations can also promote certain mental health resources to the team. For instance, the Construction Industry Helpline offers 24/7 support to workers and their families in the UK.
Promote emotional safety in the construction space
Construction operations can get hectic when everyone is moving around while working on the project. Each worker needs to trust and rely on one another to move things along, and creating a culture of emotional safety can help. Minimise friction, allow people to be open to building rapport, and move mental health forward.
The post The mental health mandate: Building a culture of emotional safety in construction appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.
