Procore has partnered with The B1M to launch Get Construction Talking to address the mental health crisis, reduce stigma and provide resources to tackle the industry’s biggest killer – suicide
As we celebrate how rapidly the construction industry is now transforming, we must remember that the future of the industry comes down to protecting the mental health its most precious resource: people.
Among men in the UK, construction has one of the highest suicide rates of any sector.
The strains of the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated the numbers in England and Wales, where in the seven years leading up to 2021, suicide rates rose from 26 to 34 per 100,000 workers.
What is the Get Construction Talking initiative?
It is essential for the industry to come together to protect our workforce’s wellbeing and raise awareness about the mental health challenges that many face both on and off the job.
Get Construction Talking is a global initiative that aims to do just that. The programme plans to raise awareness of mental health in construction, reduce stigma and raise $1m in funds to donate to charitable organisations that are committed to providing mental health resources to construction.
Procore’s vision is to improve the lives of everyone in construction and has partnered with The B1M, construction’s leading video channel, to bring this issue to the forefront.
The two-part documentary series highlights the importance of discussing mental health in construction
As part of the initiative, The B1M released a new two-part documentary series that is free to view on its YouTube channel.
The video series discusses the importance of focusing on mental health in construction, an industry that is prone to many risk factors, including a high-stress environment, occupational hazards, long working hours, job insecurity and a stigma around mental health.
“There’s published evidence that people working in roles with lower control are at higher risk of dying of suicide,” said Chris Lockwood, CEO of MATES Australia, in the documentary video series.
“Long working hours can lead to a lack of social connections, and periods of no work can contribute to financial hardships. These basic things that are prevalent in construction impact wellbeing.”
Long working hours, job stability and risk causing burnout and depression
As construction projects and workers were deemed “essential” early on in the pandemic, many existing stressors and pressures unique to field workers were amplified.
Extended working hours, job stability and the risk associated with remote field work increased feelings of uncertainty, burn-out and depression. Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, a UK-based non-profit, reported a 25% increase in weekly calls to its Construction Industry Helpline.
The official launch of Get Construction Talking took place in London, where representatives from across the construction industry came together for a screening of the new documentary series, followed by a panel discussion featuring Procore CEO Tooey Courtemanche, The B1M founder Fred Mills, award-winning engineer Yewande Akinola MBE and Logan Price of OHB Construction.
It’s important to speak out
“When you’re feeling in a dark place, it’s really difficult to speak,” said Price. “But if you can encourage others to speak before they get to that dark place, it’s easier to start to have those kinds of conversations.”
While organisations are coming together to provide support, most commonly by incorporating mental health awareness into safety programming, discussions need to be taking place at every level across the field and office.
“If you look at the history of the construction industry, it’s always been cutthroat with terrible profit margins,” said Akinola.
“The pressure is always there. In this transformational period, we need to start to unpack all of these inherent challenges. We need to completely rethink what the structure of our industry looks like.”
These traditional perspectives are changing, starting with the work being done by safety advocates. Firms are adding training about conflict resolution and symptoms of suicidal behaviour, extending the culture of safety to include both the body and the mind.
When it comes to skilled trade workers, Armando Tunales, general superintendent with Holt Construction, believes: “Keeping morale high is of utmost importance to ensure quality of life. At the heart of all of this is the need for everyone, leaders included, to not only talk about the importance of mental health but apply it by showing respect for the construction industry’s people.”
The funds raised through Get Construction Talking will go towards construction mental health charities across the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand, including the Lighthouse Charity, Construction Sport, MATES in Construction, Mates in Mind and the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP).
To get involved, visit getconstructiontalking.org.
Sasha Reed
Senior director, business development
Procore
Tel: +44 0800 368 7703
