A Year in Construction Mental Health: Have Things Improved in 2023?

At Comfy Workers, one of our primary goals is to provide contractor accommodation that provides a home away from home for employees within the sector. Of course one of the main reasons is that people travelling for work need somewhere to stay. However, it’s mostly as we understand our role in alleviating stress and sorrow for construction professionals who may be struggling.

In the ever-evolving construction world, conversations around mental health have come leaps and bounds during previous years, which is great to see. In this blog, we will explore the developments in 2023 and provide recommendations for how leaders can support their teams more confidently in 2024 and beyond.

What Do The Statistics Say For Mental Health In Construction In 2023?

Let’s start by looking at some of the key statistics for 2023 concerning the mental health of construction workers.

Construction workers are six times more likely to die from mental health than a dangerous fall. This puts the severity of mental health issues into a stark display that we are sure all will find shocking.
Work-related stresses caused mental health problems for 82% of UK builders. This includes travel, team relationships, supply chain issues, and general sector stresses such as rising costs.
Males working in construction are three times more likely to die from suicide than males in other sectors.
More than 50% of UK builders say they have struggled with mental health problems during 2023.
The main causes of mental health reported in construction workers span a few different categories, including anxiety (40%), lack of self-confidence (25%) and fatigue (28%), to name just a few.
73% of construction workers say they consistently struggle with mental health every month. This shows that there is still lots of work to be done to make lasting improvements and tackle the issue at its root cause.
Suicide rates within the construction sector are higher than in any other UK industry.

How Has Mental Health In The Construction Sector Been Shaped In 2023?

In the transformative landscape of the construction sector, mental health is a topic that needs more attention. The statistics we have shared above are a stark reminder that things have not massively changed this year. Whether this is due to wider impacts, such as the cost-of-living crisis, or a lack of willingness to change from business leaders, now is the time to make things different.

Below are some of the ways that the topic of mental health has been approached in 2023 in terms of the construction sector:

More programmes and awareness campaigns.

The construction sector has witnessed a surge in initiatives and programmes promoting mental well-being. One of the most notable and recent examples of this was The Prince of Wales, shedding light on the construction sector on World Suicide Prevention Day.

This is also reflected within businesses as more companies seem to be making changes to focus on the mental health needs of construction employees. Once deemed taboo, open conversations have become integral in fostering an environment where professionals feel empowered to share their struggles without fear of stigma.

Technology has been leading the way.

Advancements in technology have played a pivotal role in shaping mental health initiatives within the construction sector. From mental health apps tailored for industry professionals to virtual support networks, technology has made its way to the sector. Our own app has a clear purpose of improving mental health and wellbeing conditions for construction staff so can be included in this category.

Mental health is now a pillar of training and education.

In 2023, a growing emphasis on mental health training and education has become a cornerstone of the construction industry. Part of this is because of the shocking stats, and the other influence seems to be the requests from construction workers to secure support.

How Can Comfy Workers Support Construction Workers Wellbeing?

As we have touched upon, we aim to improve the mental health of construction teams by offering suitable accommodation for builders and other professionals. When teams are working away from home, having a place to relax and unwind is paramount to keeping everyone happy. Homestays are perfect for achieving this as they allow all of the usual home comforts to be considered.

Whether it's something as simple as cooking a meal, having a sofa to chill on or a garden for safe outdoor space, there are many benefits to choosing serviced stays for construction teams.

We also actively work with clients to determine their employees' requirements. An example of how we use this feedback can be seen in our wide variety of 2023 platform updates and the publication of useful articles, such as our top tips for tradespeople when staying away from home.

If this sounds like the approach that your team could benefit from, both mentally and physically, contact us to make a booking today.