The Numbers Nobody Talks About
The construction industry has a crisis that does not show up on any project timeline or budget sheet. Construction workers are four times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. Rates of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse in the trades consistently rank among the highest of any profession.
Jeff Wieland of Wieland Builders opened up about this issue on the First Shift Podcast, and his honesty was both rare and necessary. In an industry built on toughness and grit, talking about mental health still feels taboo to many. But ignoring the problem is not toughness. It is negligence.
Why Construction Workers Are at Higher Risk
Several factors combine to make the trades uniquely challenging for mental health:
Physical demands and chronic pain. Years of heavy lifting, repetitive motion, and exposure to extreme weather take a toll. Chronic pain is one of the strongest predictors of depression, and construction workers live with it daily.
Job insecurity and seasonal work. Many tradespeople face layoffs, slow seasons, and the constant stress of wondering when the next paycheck is coming. Financial stress is a leading driver of anxiety and depression.
Long hours away from family. Early mornings, long commutes, and travel jobs mean missing dinners, weekends, and milestones with loved ones. The isolation compounds over time.
Culture of toughness. "Suck it up" is not a mental health strategy, but it is the default advice on most job sites. Workers who are struggling learn to hide it, which makes everything worse.
Substance use as coping. Alcohol and drugs become pressure relief valves. What starts as a few beers after work becomes a dependency that masks deeper issues.
High-pressure deadlines. Tight schedules, demanding clients, and the pressure to perform create a sustained stress environment that grinds people down.
What Contractors and Business Owners Can Do
If you run a contracting business, you have both the opportunity and the responsibility to create a healthier environment for your team. Here are practical steps that work:
1. Normalize the Conversation
You do not need to become a therapist. You just need to make it acceptable to talk about struggles. Simple actions make a difference:
- Share resources during team meetings. Post the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number in your shop or break area.
- Talk about stress openly. When the boss says "this week was brutal, and I am feeling it," it gives everyone permission to be human.
- Check in with your people. Not just "how is the project going?" but "how are you doing?"
2. Watch for Warning Signs
Learn to recognize when someone on your team might be struggling:
- Increased absenteeism or showing up late regularly
- Withdrawal from the crew, eating lunch alone, not participating in conversation
- Increased irritability or anger that seems disproportionate
- Decline in work quality from someone who normally takes pride in their craft
- Mentions of feeling hopeless, trapped, or like a burden
You do not need to diagnose anything. You just need to notice and care enough to have a private conversation.
3. Provide Practical Support
- Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). Many insurance plans include free counseling sessions. Make sure your team knows about them.
- Flexible scheduling when possible. Allowing someone to come in late for a therapy appointment should not be harder than letting them leave early for a dentist visit.
- Peer support training. Programs like MATES in Construction train workers to recognize and respond to mental health issues on the job site.
- Substance use resources. Partner with local organizations that provide confidential support for addiction recovery.
4. Address the Root Causes
Better mental health is not just about adding a helpline poster to the break room. It is about changing the conditions that cause the problems:
- Pay people fairly and on time. Financial stress is a massive contributor. Inconsistent or delayed pay makes everything worse.
- Manage workload realistically. Chronic overtime is not a badge of honor. It is a burnout factory.
- Create clear expectations. Uncertainty and chaos on the job site create stress. Good project management is a mental health tool.
- Build a respectful culture. Bullying, hazing, and toxic masculinity are not traditions worth preserving. They drive good people out of the industry and destroy the ones who stay.
The Business Case for Mental Health
If the human argument is not enough, consider the business impact. Poor mental health in your workforce leads to:
- Higher turnover and recruitment costs
- Increased workplace accidents and injuries
- Lower productivity and work quality
- More absenteeism and presenteeism
- Higher insurance and workers compensation claims
Investing in your team's mental health is not just the right thing to do. It is smart business.
Jeff Wieland's Perspective
What made Jeff's conversation on the First Shift Podcast powerful was his willingness to be vulnerable. He talked about the pressures of running a construction business and the toll it takes on the owner, not just the crew. Business owners in the trades face the same risks, often amplified by the weight of responsibility for everyone else.
His message was clear: taking care of yourself is not weakness. It is what allows you to take care of your business, your team, and your family.
Resources
If you or someone you know is struggling:
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
- MATES in Construction: matesinconstruction.org
- CAMH (Canada): camh.ca
If you are a contractor looking to build better systems for your team, including communication tools and workflows that reduce chaos and stress, we can help.