Construction industry series: Fading Away - Construction Leaders Speak Out About Mental Health

Abstract

Organizations depend on a healthy workforce to stay competitive in their industry and mental health is no exception. It wasn’t long ago when a person s psychological well-being wasn’t discussed at the office, but now, more than ever, managers in the construction sector are taking on a leadership role when it comes to addressing the overall well-being of their employees. Our well-being depends on where we fall along a mental health continuum that extends from feeling mentally healthy and well on one end to experiencing distress with a diagnosed mental health condition on the other. For most people, their mental health continuously shifts and evolves along that continuum depending on many factors. Behavioral health is the term most often used to describe both mental health and substance use conditions. Mental health impacts how people think, feel, and act so it’s easy to see how it affects work performance, productivity, retention, health, quality, and safety. For employers, the opportunity to improve workplace mental health exists at organizational and individual levels. Mental health conditions are common, impacting one in five, or close to 47 million U.S. adults. About 20 million adults also experience a substance use disorder. And while treatment works, less than half of people who need help actually get it.