Construction's Silent Epidemic: Mental Illness and Overcoming Stigma

The silent epidemic of mental health is hitting the construction industry hard. According to the CDC, suicide rates for people in the construction industry are twice as high as the United States national average. 1 in 5 construction workers suffer from mental health challenges, but it is often a silent battle. What factors contribute to mental illness, and what can we do as an industry to end the stigma that can prevent people from recognizing problems and seeking effective help? To discuss the effects of mental health on the construction industry, we talked to Bob Swanson, retired president of Swanson & Youngdale, a Minnesota-based paint and drywall contractor. Bob is a suicide prevention advocate for the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI). He was named the Minnesota chapter's 2019 Volunteer of the Year for the countless hours he has dedicated to educating and speaking up about suicide prevention across the country. We also talked to Brendan Ward, who is a Construction Engineer at Kraus-Anderson, about his personal experience in the industry and his own mental health.