MENTAL HEALTH
a matter of
substance
The use of legal and illegal substances has a devastating ripple
effect in the construction industry, putting lives at risk and
leading to depression, anxiety and even suicide. But the industry
is fighting back, launching an education campaign to get people
talking about the tough topics that were previously off limits.
In construction, the words “workplace safety” have traditionally
By Lisa Gordon
conjured up images of harnesses, safety glasses or other
personal protective equipment (PPE). As a whole, the industry
has made great strides when it comes to safeguarding physical
wellbeing on the job site.
But in recent years, it’s become increasingly obvious that mental
health also needs to be a top priority.
According to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration, the construction industry has one of the
highest rates of substance abuse and substance use disorders compared
to other industries in the United States.
Research has shown that substance abuse is closely linked to
mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety that
can lead to suicide. Today, the National Institute of Mental Health
says about one in five American adults is living with some level of
mental illness.
“It’s important to understand – speaking as someone who’s
been in the industry most of their adult career – that the focus, and
rightly so, for decades has been worker physical safety,” said Greg
Sizemore, VP of health, safety, environment and workforce development
at Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and vicechair
of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention
(CIASP). “We now have a paradigm shift opportunity where we can
begin to think of workers’ mental health.”
Industry insight
At ABC, a U.S. construction industry trade association, Sizemore
says the focus is on “total human health” – representing the whole
package, both physical and mental, that comes together to influence
safety on the job.
He designs workplace strategies for ABC’s 21,000-plus member
firms, with a special focus on health, safety and the environment as
well as workforce development. Sizemore started as a construction
labourer straight out of high school and worked his way up, accumulating
three decades of progressive experience that give him
unique industry insights into factors he believes influence the high
rate of substance abuse in the construction industry.
“I believe there are three very significant contributing factors
here that we’re dealing with in our workforce,” he said.
First, he points to the industry-wide labor shortage and notes
the industry has neglected to adequately promote construction
careers to the next generation.
“As a result, we have a very aged population in construction.
If you think about it, some statistics say that the median age of a
construction worker in the workforce today is somewhere in their
40s,” said Sizemore.
As bodies grow older, work-related wear and tear adds up,
sometimes resulting in chronic pain. Sizemore says people may
be more prone to self-medicating with legal or illegal substances
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