remain at risk, and those in crisis will continue to go unnoticed un-til
it’s too late.
There are resources available, but all too often, those who need
them most aren’t aware of them. Those who manage to access them
may face red tape or bureaucracy that makes accessing the resource
an additional source of stress.
Increase awareness of mental
health resources
The good news is that there are resources available to those in the
construction sector. In a recent Alberta survey, over half of the con-struction
workers polled indicated that that they did have access to
an Employee Assistance Plan (EAP), and that they knew how to ac-cess
it if needed. But only a small number of workers actually ac-cessed
it.11 In order to increase the number of construction workers
accessing resources available to them, communication is key. There
must be a focused effort on increasing communication. Ideas include:
• Making EAPs available and accessible to all construction
workers, including union members, so that even those without
work have access.
• Posting information in visible, high-traffic locations, such as
union and health and safety communication boards and trade
publications and emails.
• Training for site supervisors that includes how to spot a worker
who might be experiencing a mental health issue or illness, or
who might be in crisis.
• Requiring supervisors and those in leadership to access services
on their own to gain an understanding of how they work in order
to better inform conversations with colleagues.
• Mental health first aid training for those in leadership roles so
that they are equipped with skills and knowledge to assist a
construction worker in need and help them connect to the proper
resources and support mechanisms.
• A process for company-wide communications to alert people to
all available resources.
Ending the stigma is the first step in ensuring that no more
construction workers die by suicide, experience mental ill-health
alone, or continue to live in silence while dealing with challenges
associated with mental ill-health. There have been efforts aimed
at stigma reduction and increased awareness surrounding mental
health. Although the construction sector has been slow in following
suite, it is improving. That’s a big and much-needed change, and not
a moment too soon.
References
1. https://geniebelt.com/blog/mental-health-in-construction
2. https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/res/mhr/
if-res-mhr-construction-industry-lit-review.pdf
3. https://geniebelt.com/blog/mental-health-in-construction
4. https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/res/mhr/
if-res-mhr-construction-industry-technical.pdf
5. Ibid.
6. http://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-003-x/2006007/
article/injuries-blessures/4149017-eng.htm
7. https://constructible.trimble.com/construction-industry/
mental-health-in-construction-stats
8. http://www.ehstoday.com/construction/
suicide-construction-industry-silent-killer
9. https://geniebelt.com/blog/mental-health-in-construction
10. http://www.pinerest.org
construction-workers-at-higher-risk-for-suicide-blog/
11. http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/res/mhr/
if-res-mhr-construction-industry-technical.pdf
SERGEY NIVENS/123RF
MENTAL HEALTH
36 Think BIG | Quarter 1 2019 | saskheavy.ca
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