With decades of experience in the industry, DeShon Leek understands firsthand the dark side of working in the construction industry.

Mr. Negi, the representative of the southeastern district. Michigan Building and Construction Industry Councilwe have seen many cases of workers struggling with mental health issues, even during boom times such as the industry is currently experiencing.

“I believe that competitive environments, high-pressure working conditions, alcohol and drug abuse, end-of-season layoffs, family separation, physical exhaustion from hard work, and long working hours take their toll on construction. workers,” Leak told MiBiz.

He tells the story of a high school friend of 32 years who dealt with mental health issues.

“Everything looked perfect,” Leake said.

However, due to personal problems at home, the friend eventually divorced and lost his family and home.

“My best friend moved in with his father. His father came home from work to find him dead on the basement steps from an overdose,” he said.

Friends of Leaks has become a tragic statistic that is unfortunately all too common in the construction industry.

According to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services data, Michigan had a construction worker suicide rate of 75.4 per 100,000 people in 2019, one of the highest suicide rates of any industry.

For Leake, the issue “draws back to mental health perceptions.”

“Many construction workers are hesitant to discuss mental health because they fear it will embarrass them, be judged by their peers, or negatively affect their work. Some people don’t know how to access it properly,” he said.

story change

Many partners across the state, including labor, administration and various state agencies, aim to help change the narrative that has been played out in the industry. In commemoration of Prevention Week, we highlighted a range of initiatives to support mental health awareness in the workplace.

Sean Egan, Deputy Director of Labor for the State Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, spoke about how the industry is focusing on raising awareness and protecting and supporting construction workers.

“When I looked at the data in the Workplace Mental Health workgroup this spring, it was really striking how far the construction industry was, so to speak, compared to other industries. Workers.

“We find that more than 90 percent of workers are men, and perhaps 85 percent are white men. It’s expensive,” he said. .

Egan calls for a “cultural change” within the industry to better help those dealing with mental health issues.

“We are … certainly trying to attack the stigma among managers and employers, but also to make workers aware that it is OK to not be OK,” he said.

While some might see the problem as a side effect of the construction industry’s current hectic pace, Egan notes that suicide rates “were on the rise in the early to mid-2000s, and in this particular industry, The data show that it continues to rise.” ”

Similarly, the data also show that employers should take steps to support the mental health of their employees.

“Employers play a big role. It’s where we spend most of our time as adults when we’re awake, and it’s a great point of intervention and a great place to be more supportive,” says Egan. Told.

Warning signs, prevention tips

Evonne Edwards, PhD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Director of Outpatient and Recovery Services Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Servicessaid workers with mental health problems can exhibit a variety of warning signs.

“Some of the key warning signs we look for are suicide threats and statements,” Edwards said.

Edwards added that previous suicide attempts, previous acts of self-harm, and increased alcohol or drug use are other important indicators.

“Nearly 20% of the construction industry — one and five employees — reported using large amounts of alcohol in the last month, and about 12% reported using drugs in the past month,” she said. said. “They’re about themselves, but they’re also big risk factors for suicide. Especially when it’s increased and combined with other risk factors, it’s a warning sign.”

On the preventive side, Edwards said employers can encourage a work-life balance for their employees, especially during busy periods. This includes facilitating vacation or recuperation, or providing financial guidance and planning.

“Often, construction workers are doing very well financially during the summer or busy season, and then sometimes have these periods of underemployment,” she said. It is helpful to plan ahead to prevent some of these risks of debt and financial instability during this period.”

Edwards added that communicating with friends and family during periods of underemployment can help boost self-esteem and reduce risk.

For Employers: “You don’t have to use perfect words. It’s important to ask open-ended questions.” Do you have it?” Ask directly. “Creating an opportunity to acknowledge it without being seen as a negative thing, keep the conversation going, be with the person and help them connect to help.”

‘talk about it’

Edwards said the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a useful option, especially for construction workers. Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Gatekeeper Training teaches employers, workers and team her leaders how to ask the right questions, while also learning what they can do to provide warning signals and overall support. increase.

“There are a lot of different options out there, and Pine Rest has worked a lot with all sorts of different industries.

Speaking during Suicide Prevention Week in Construction, Leek also highlighted warning indicators that employers should pay attention to for their employees.

The top three warning indicators of leaks include decreased employee productivity at work and increased conflict among co-workers.

But overall, Leek believes there is great value in maintaining communication.

“You want them to talk about it. Don’t suffer in silence,” he said.

Additional resources for employers to promote workplace mental health can be found at:

• Suicide Crisis Lines: 741741 with text “HELLO”
• National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988

• Benice by Western Michigan Mental Health Foundation: A mental health and suicide prevention program for businesses that provides tools to help improve workplace culture, improve employee engagement, and support suicide prevention efforts. https://www.benice.org/our-programs/business