By Cal Beyer, VP of Workforce Risk and Worker Wellbeing, CSDZ
In September 2021, the Center for Workplace Mental Health released the results from the Pulse Survey on Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Construction Industry. This pulse survey focused on opportunities to continue moving forward in effectively addressing worker mental health and wellbeing in construction. The final survey report highlights findings, strategies, recommendations, and resources to improve mental health for construction workers.
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Survey addresses four crucial challenges.
- Engaging company leaders to support mental health initiatives visibly, vocally, and vulnerably. Leaders who exhibit these “three Vs” lead by example and let workers know “it is okay to not be okay.” Leaders who care share resources to help workers and families in need of support. Where these “three Vs” exist, a fourth “V” for “vertical” emerges as workers up and down the organizational structure begin to freely share their lived experiences.
- Raising mental health awareness by regularly sharing resources with employees. It is important for employees to better understand the services and supports available to them and their dependent family members. Teaching employees how to tap into employee assistance programs and employee health insurance programs is important education.
- Creating a mentally healthy culture to reduce the stigma and shame associated with mental health. It is important to increase the literacy of health and mental health for leaders at all levels in a company. Take time to educate leaders and supervisors on why mental health is a workforce safety and health issue. Provide training to promote and reinforce psychological safety in the workplace and on the job site.
- Removing barriers and enhancing access to mental health services and support. Barriers to care-seeking and acceptance can be removed by integrating mental health into human resources functions, employee benefits programs, and safety/health and wellness practices.
A Call to Action: Immediate Steps Leaders Can Take Now
- Read the 2021 Mental Health and Wellbeing in Construction Survey Final Report.
- Read the flipbook, “Building a Caring Culture: Addressing Mental Health in the Workplace.”
- Discuss mental health with the senior leadership team and develop a simple strategy to develop a mentally healthy culture and improve sharing of resources with employees and family members.
- Commit to stamp out stigma in the organization by creating a no-shame zone with a psychologically safe work environment where managers and supervisors support workers with empathy and understanding.
For more, please visit www.constructionexec.com.
Source: Construction Executive
