Construction & engineering
Men's mental health in construction: what employers can do
Construction work brings particular pressures: long hours, time away from home, tight deadlines and a culture of just getting on with it. Here's what the evidence shows and what employers can practically do.
7 min readUpdated 21 October 2026By MENd Together CIC
What the evidence shows
The Office for National Statistics analysed deaths registered in England between 2011 and 2015. It found that the risk of suicide among low-skilled male labourers, particularly those working in construction, was around three times the male national average.
For its 2020 report on mental health in the built environment, the Chartered Institute of Building surveyed 2,081 construction industry workers. Over a quarter (26%) said they had experienced suicidal thoughts, and only 56% said their business had a mental health policy in place.
Suicide has no single cause, and occupational figures can never explain any one person's death. But the pattern is clear enough that employers can't leave it to chance.
Pressures that are common on site
Every workforce is different, but these pressures come up again and again.
- Long or irregular hours, early starts and long travel
- Working away from home and family
- Insecure work, short contracts and self-employment
- Physical strain, injury and pain
- Deadlines, penalties and pressure from the programme
- A culture where admitting you're struggling feels risky
Practical steps for site and office
- Build mental health into toolbox talks and inductions, so it's treated like any other safety topic.
- Make sure supervisors and site managers know how to start a conversation and where to point someone.
- Include subcontractors and agency workers in what you offer, not just direct employees.
- Put crisis numbers where people will see them: welfare cabins, vans and site noticeboards.
- Offer support that doesn't depend on sitting in an office, such as an informal circle or a session on site.
How MENd Together works with construction employers
MENd Together delivers men's mental health and wellbeing support built for male-dominated workplaces. That includes workshops, facilitated workplace men's circles, wellbeing drop-ins and confidential one-to-one support, with leadership support for managers. Sessions are practical and plain-spoken, and nobody has to share anything personal.
Healing Through Movement, a gentle movement and breathwork session, can also be delivered on site and is fully funded by Sport England.
For employers
Support for the men in your workforce
MENd Together is a Community Interest Company delivering practical, confidential men's wellbeing support for employers: workplace men's circles, workshops, one-to-one support, drop-ins, leadership support and ongoing partnerships, shaped around your workforce.
Common questions
- Can sessions run on site?
- Yes. Sessions can be shaped around your sites, shift patterns and welfare facilities. We agree the details with you first.
- Do workers have to talk about their own mental health?
- No. Sharing is always optional. Many people get a lot from simply listening.
- What if someone needs urgent help?
- If someone is at immediate risk, call 999. For urgent mental health support, call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option, call Samaritans free on 116 123, or text SHOUT to 85258.
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Suicide by occupation, England: 2011 to 2015
- Chartered Institute of Building: Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment
- Health and Safety Executive: Work-related stress, depression or anxiety statistics in Great Britain
This guide is general information, not legal, medical or clinical advice. MENd Together is not a crisis service. If someone is at immediate risk, call 999.