Why Building Company Owners Need To Prioritise Their Mental Health
Russ Stephens
Helping residential home builders to generate more leads and more sales at higher margins while improving the building experience for their clients.
When you think of workplace hazards that cause death in the construction industry, your mind probably goes to accidents by falling, being crushed by heavy equipment or electrocution….
But there is a silent cause that is more deadly than any of these… suicide.
Globally, construction has one of the highest suicide rates among all industries.
In the U.S., suicide rates for men in construction are almost twice the rate of civilian working men.
In the U.K., close to 400 workers in the engineering and construction sectors die by suicide every year.
In Australia, a construction worker is lost every second day due to suicide.
The impacts of working within the construction industry are felt worldwide. These workers need support from their families, co-workers and most importantly, from their leaders who they report to every day.
The role of employers and building company owners in providing a safe and supportive environment for their workers is crucial in order to change the trajectory of suicide in construction.
But in order for leaders and business owners to be able to provide this level of support to their teams, They need to prioritise their own mental health and wellbeing first to ensure they can be there for their employees during tough times.?
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Building company owners have a duty of care to their employees and are often legally obliged to make sure their worker’s environment is safe and will not be detrimental to mental health.
While it may seem obvious that construction safety hazards must be taken into account when providing employees with a safe working environment, often managers and leaders overlook how their workplace promotes positive mental health and wellbeing.
Building company owners have a role to play in identifying mental stress amongst their employees and being able to offer support and solutions when necessary.
However, part of the problem is that often no one is looking out for or checking in with the owners or leaders themselves.?
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”-?John C. Maxwell. This quote is especially relevant for building company owners when it comes to taking control of the issue of mental health.