Written by LDCA Staff, image by ChatGPT

The local ICI construction industry is the engine of our economy and the most significant community builders both on and off site Beneath the safety vests and hard hats there s a growing, silent crisis. The traditional culture of "toughness", the extreme pressures of deadlines, long hours, and physical strain are taking a toll on our workforce.

The good news? The crisis is not going unnoticed. Construction leaders are starting to dismantle the stigma, driven by compelling statistics that prove mental well-being is a critical safety issue.

The Stark Reality: One in Three Report Poor Mental Health

The data from Statistics Canada is clear and sobering:

• 33% of men in the Canadian construction industry report having poor mental health. This figure is alarmingly high and indicates that a significant portion of the workforce is struggling every single day.

• More broadly, an analysis by the Construction Industry Rehabilitation Plan (CIRP) found that 83% of construction workers have experienced a mental health issue (ranging from moderate to severe).
  

These statistics highlight persistent issues like anxiety, depression, and burnout; all of which fundamentally affect safety, productivity, and, most importantly, quality of life. All of this data underscores the urgent need for intervention.

The Call for Change: Workers looking for More Support
While the industry has started to recognize the impact of mental heal the on site, workers feel there is a gap between what's needed and what's provided. The workforce itself is leading the call for more resources and employer engagement.

According to Statistics Canada, 64% of construction workers want their employers to do more to support their mental health.

This overwhelming desire for increased support indicates workers want wellness embedding on the job so that mental health to be treated with the same priority as physical safety. This means:

• Training: Equipping supervisors and crew leaders with training to recognize the signs of distress (like The Working Mind for the Trades).

• Encouraging Open Communication: Normalizing the conversation by making mental health a regular topic in Toolbox Talks, challenging the traditional  cultural norms.

• Access to Assistance: Ensuring every site, regardless of size, has accessible information related to crisis services, peer support, and any available Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs).

Off-Site: Leadership and Culture
Support must extend beyond the jobsite and be driven by leadership that sets a culture of responsiveness through:

• Destigmatizing Help: Leading by example by having senior leaders and managers openly advocate for mental wellness and utilize available resources themselves.

• Better Benefits: Increasing the scope of Extended Health Benefits (EHBs) to provide adequate coverage for therapy, counselling, and addiction services, which often only cover a handful of sessions.

• Flexible Work/Life Balance: Recognizing that long hours, out of town, remote work, and constantly changing schedules can wear on mental well-being.
  

Local Opportunities: Resources in Ontario
For local construction workers and employers, support is available and accessible. Taking the first step, whether for yourself or a co-worker, is the hardest, but the most important.

Are you a Health and Safety leader or  an HR team ember for your LDCA member company, looking to implement a mental health strategy for your workers? LDCA can help. You can register for Mental Health Matters: Constructions’ Silent Struggle, a three-part series presented for professionals  in the construction industry. FIND OUT MORE