The issue:
Mental health is a growing concern within the construction industry, and we are dedicated to working with experts and professionals to ensure that our team members can access the help they need. Within the industry alone, 190 Australians are lost to suicide. This equates to a construction worker taking their life every second day.
It’s beamingly obvious that construction can involve high-risk jobs and can incur serious, long-term injuries from accidents at work. However, research shows that workers are 8x more likely to die from suicide than a work-related accident.
Levels of depression, anxiety, and stress were 40% higher in construction workers than the average population.
Construction jobs typically revolve around the following requirements:
- Demanding work conditions
- High, stressful workloads
- Poor work-life balance
- FIFO work
- Temporary/unstable work
It’s more common than not for construction workers to suffer through psychosocial hazards, with research suggesting that they often have these feelings more intensely than individuals in other industries. Instances of burnout are more frequent in the industry due to unmanageable stress, high workloads, and unsupportive work environments.
Studies also suggest that the stress of construction work can lead to hostile work environments when there is a lack of support, healthy work-life balance, and worker satisfaction.
Barriers to Help:
Mental health is a very stigmatised topic of conversation and can often cause individuals to feel embarrassed by their struggles. Often times, there is a culture of ‘toughness’ permeating construction sites and prevents open discussions of struggles and unhealthy feelings.
Surveys surrounding this topic found that majority of workers aren’t aware of the resources available to them in times of need. Safe Work Australia has previously surveyed workers in the industry and found that 55% of their respondents were concerned about their job security if they disclosed their need for help with their mental health.
The self-reliance of construction workers is a primary barrier to them seeking help. What is typically seen are workers forcing themselves through stressful times with no external support or help.
Doctors at the Australian Black Dog Institute have recognised that male-dominated industries, like construction, is where we typically see lower rates of help-seeking due to the higher levels of stigma and stereotyping.
What Caledonia Group is Doing to Help:
As a company, we are dedicated to ensuring that our staff are healthy and surrounded by support and resources. Our high priority goals dictate that we will foster and grow a positive environment and culture, with mutual respect between all of our team members.
We are dedicated to ensuring that this includes easy access to mental health resources and an open and nonjudgmental work environment that encourages open dialogue about potential struggles.
We have engaged with MATES in Construction to ensure that we are remaining up to date with the resources that we can offer our staff in times of need. This charity organisation offers mental health first aid training in the workplace. MATES offers multiple levels of this training, as listed below:
Source: MATES in Construction website
We currently have 5 team members that have undergone the Connector training. This means that they are trained to keep someone safe if they are experiencing a crisis or severe struggle, whilst also efficiently working to connect them with a mental health professional that can provide long-term support and coping mechanisms. This training is being rolled out across all of our locations to guarantee that our staff are protected, no matter their location.
Our 3 goals to prioritising and protecting mental health in the workplace:
- creating open and welcome dialogue to encourage workers to express their difficult thoughts or feelings
- obtaining resources that detail the importance of mental health similar to what we have on the importance of PPE on construction sites
- empowering our workers to seek help when needed through the above goals
We have worked diligently to cultivate a culture of openness where employees feel comfortable talking about mental health challenges without fear of judgment or stigma. Through leadership and peer-to-peer conversations, we promote an environment where asking for help is seen as a strength, not a weakness.
Our leadership team is trained to recognize the signs of stress, burnout, and mental health challenges in their team members. Managers are equipped to have empathetic conversations, offer support, and guide employees to the appropriate resources when needed. This ensures that mental health is consistently addressed at every level of the organisation.
We believe that a balanced life leads to more productive and engaged employees. By encouraging regular breaks, setting realistic expectations, and limiting after-hours work communications, we ensure that our employees can disconnect and prioritize their personal lives.
By integrating mental health initiatives into the fabric of our workplace culture, Caledonia Group is not just improving the well-being of our employees; we are building a stronger, more resilient, and supportive community where everyone can thrive.
