Georgia’s construction industry is one of the state’s fastest-growing sectors, contributing $80.9 billion to the economy and supporting roughly 250,000 workers statewide. However, the demands placed on workers are making mental health support an increasingly important part of workplace safety.

Mental Health in the Construction Industry

Construction workers face pressures that extend beyond the physical demands of the job, including long hours, tight deadlines, labor shortages, travel demands, and the pressures of working in a high-risk environment. The industry’s demographics, with a predominantly male workforce and a significant veteran population, can also make mental health challenges harder to address.

The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Georgia has expanded its training programs, suicide prevention initiatives, and partnerships aimed at reducing stigma around mental health. The efforts include partnering with the Mental Fitness Company “My Steady Mind” to offer mental fitness training for members.

ABC of Georgia President Bill Anderson emphasized the importance of addressing mental health in the construction industry, stating that “construction leaders have worked hard to build cultures of safety and improve physical protections on the jobsite, but mental health requires a different approach.” Anderson also encouraged community members to check in on friends, family members, and co-workers who may be struggling.

The organization has reported that awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline among Georgia construction workers has reached 67.2%, compared with 48.7 percent among the state’s general population. ABC of Georgia has also committed to conducting three Total Human Health training events this year and incorporating mental health into its safety benchmarking efforts.

Original reporting: SaportaReport — read the source article.