Insights How can we improve mental health within the global construction industry?
Mental health and well-being should be regarded as high priorities for organisations across all industries, and with the challenges caused by COVID-19, it is now more important than ever. Construction can be a fantastic and rewarding industry to forge a career in, however, workers are more likely than average to experience work-related stress and other mental health issues. Recent reports have identified that 48% of workers in the constructions industry took time off due to unmanageable stress and 91% were quoted as feeling overwhelmed.
Here at Atkins, a member of the AtkinsRéalis Group, we put great emphasis on building a supportive culture around mental health. In 2017, we signed the Time to Change Pledge, and developed a detailed plan to help our employees talk about mental health.
Over the years, coming forward to discuss mental health has been stigmatised, but times are now changing, and more construction firms are starting to see their staff’s mental health as a priority. Although plenty of progress has been made, there is still a long way to go and there are a range of processes that construction firms can implement to improve their employees’ mental health.
Here, we discuss what construction firms can, and are, doing to combat the industry’s mental health issues.
Proudly promote support of mental health
Acknowledging that there is a mental health issue within construction and promoting support is the first step towards creating a safer environment. Construction has the highest rate of male suicide among American workers and a similar trend can be seen across the globe, therefore action is a must. Safety and construction already go hand in hand and construction firms are now getting a firm grip on the impact of mental health on workplace safety. Steps to bring awareness to depression, loneliness and anxiety is imperative and encouraging workers to come forward if they are experiencing mental health are now becoming a priority.
Reducing the stigma and encouraging a safe and open working environment is on the rise within construction firms and creating a culture of transparency will ensure that those who need help, will have easy and regular access to it.
Create a positive working environment
Here at Atkins, a member of the AtkinsRéalis Group, we understand the importance of building a strong wellbeing culture within workplaces . Employers have the responsibility for providing care for their employees and their working environment should not negatively affect their employees’ mental health.
Having traditionally focused on protecting workers from physical ailments, over the past decade, health and safety training has increasingly included mental health. Companies are acknowledging their role in addressing mental issues among their employees and how creating a positive working environment can have a substantial impact. While employers are unable to tackle all stressors in their employees’ lives, they are now focusing on improving working conditions such as:
- Working relationships with colleagues
- Management of occupational health risk
- An accepting and diverse workplace culture
- Working arrangements and hours
Provide training to employees
Recognition of issues regarding mental health and the importance of tackling them head on has grown significantly in the last year. It’s imperative that all employees, particularly managers, contribute to identifying when a member of staff needs mental support and showing them where they can get help. Employers are now providing managers and supervisors with further training to help them enhance their empathy skills and learn to listen to employees who may need a helping hand.
Construction firms are also acting by providing their staff with vital training on managing stress and recognising signs that a colleague may be experiencing mental health issues. Training modules are promoting a healthy work-life balance culture, introducing coping mechanisms for stress and anxiety, and offering employees more support than ever.
Embracing flexible working
The AtkinsRéalis Group understands the value and importance of flexible working for harbouring a high-performance culture and managing workplace stress. We believe that all organisations should balance the needs of the employees with the demands of clients, and we are beginning to see a change in the construction industry.
Increasing the opportunities for flexible working is being implemented throughout many construction firms and continues to have a positive effect on mental health. Without a healthy work-life balance, burnout is a distinct possibility that can have a negative effect on mental health. Flexible working is an effective way of giving construction staff more control over their timetable and allowing them to work their personal lives around their work responsibilities.
The construction industry as a whole has focused on combatting the current skills gap and increasing the diversity of its talent pool. However, until recently, flexible working had not been a part of plans, particularly for on-site roles.
As COVID-19 accelerated the implementation of flexible working across the globe, the construction industry followed suit. Flexible working could be the solution to the demanding working patterns that are believed to contribute to construction’s mental health issues, as well as help to bridge the gender diversity gap.
Join us as we accelerate towards a better construction industry for all
We are wholeheartedly committed to making the health, safety and wellbeing of our workforce our number one priority. Without a happy, healthy and energised team, we could not provide the innovative service that we do.
If you are looking for a new, exciting career path that can genuinely help engineer a better future for our people, we may have an opportunity for you. Browse our available construction roles today. Feel free to sign up for job alerts if you haven’t found your perfect role and join the talent community .
Interested? Find out more about life at AtkinsRéalis
Sign up to receive the latest content tailored to your interests
Our articles
![Blueprints and a hard hat on a table with hands writing over the blueprints.](https://attraxcdnprod1-freshed3dgayb7c3.z01.azurefd.net/1481103/43cc2251-abc6-42a6-bf07-36e410f33bf7/2023.17000.2547/img/gCtvIzX4lkgElwjcrKkQGQ/75/shutterstock_1807436797-min.jpg)
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
07/25/2024
Summary
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is on track to become a global tech hub centered around innovation and digital entrepreneurship. Vision 2030 has already made waves in transforming the nation’s
![A picture of Shaila smiling in a pink jacket](https://attraxcdnprod1-freshed3dgayb7c3.z01.azurefd.net/1481103/43cc2251-abc6-42a6-bf07-36e410f33bf7/2023.17000.2547/img/Fs4sXhd4S0XBCwjcq4c3aQ/75/Shaila+TN+3.png)
Preview
IndiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
07/24/2024
Summary
Hello! I'm Shaila, Associate Director and IT Business Partner at AtkinsRéalis in India. I lead diverse projects, nurture teams, and champion equality, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I). Using my
![](/Blob/img/user_no_image.jpg)
by
Shailaja Mantha
![Picture of Wannacha smiling in a white shirt.](https://attraxcdnprod1-freshed3dgayb7c3.z01.azurefd.net/1481103/43cc2251-abc6-42a6-bf07-36e410f33bf7/2023.17000.2547/img/cZibr30WnEaV9AjcqrybMA/75/WANNACHA_TN.png)
Preview
IndiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
07/23/2024
Summary
Hello! My name is Wannacha, and I joined AtkinsRéalis in Seoul in early 2024 as a process engineer. I'm proud to bring a unique blend of technical expertise and my own cultural insight
![](/Blob/img/user_no_image.jpg)
by
Shailaja Mantha
![A picture of Adam Brooks in a suit smiling.](https://attraxcdnprod1-freshed3dgayb7c3.z01.azurefd.net/1481103/43cc2251-abc6-42a6-bf07-36e410f33bf7/2023.17000.2547/img/NqMOvndEIk_fNQjcqnc8-w/75/Adam+Brooks+-+TN.png)
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
07/23/2024
Summary
Hello, I'm Adam. And, remarkably, I'm nearing my 40th anniversary with AtkinsRéalis! What started as an ‘apprentice’ as a trainee straight out of school has evolved into a fulfilling career, w
![](/Blob/img/user_no_image.jpg)
by
Shailaja Mantha
![Photo of Mahalakshmi with the AtkinsRéalis logo](https://attraxcdnprod1-freshed3dgayb7c3.z01.azurefd.net/1481103/43cc2251-abc6-42a6-bf07-36e410f33bf7/2023.17000.2547/img/np3xO56nN0OfAwjcqnc8-w/75/Mahalakshmi+TN+(1).png)
Preview
IndiaContent type
BlogsPublish date
07/23/2024
Summary
Hi, my name is Mahalakshmi. I'm an Associate Group Data Architect at AtkinsRéalis and a mother of two. I began my career in September 2010 at Infosys before moving on to a longer stint
![](/Blob/img/user_no_image.jpg)
by
Shailaja Mantha
![Close up hand signing contract with pen](https://attraxcdnprod1-freshed3dgayb7c3.z01.azurefd.net/1481103/43cc2251-abc6-42a6-bf07-36e410f33bf7/2023.17000.2547/img/sO_H58P5iUnIiwjcqgqs_A/75/shutterstock_1286215696-min.jpg)
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
07/22/2024
Summary
In 2021, the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) inaugurated the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI), a collaborative regional approach to address climate change. The goals of this
![Graphic representation of faces in different colours.](https://attraxcdnprod1-freshed3dgayb7c3.z01.azurefd.net/1481103/43cc2251-abc6-42a6-bf07-36e410f33bf7/2023.17000.2547/img/A3iXatQHh0g6wQjcpU9v8w/75/TT50+(1).png)
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
07/16/2024
Summary
Fantastic news: AtkinsRéalis has been named one of The Times' Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality in 2024! This prestigious honor shows how dedicated everyone at our organization is to promot
![](/Blob/img/user_no_image.jpg)
by
Shailaja Mantha
![A Picture of Jo smiling outdoors.](https://attraxcdnprod1-freshed3dgayb7c3.z01.azurefd.net/1481103/43cc2251-abc6-42a6-bf07-36e410f33bf7/2023.17000.2547/img/TIMW30C24kg6wwjcpU9v8w/75/Jo_tn2+(1).png)
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
07/16/2024
Summary
My name is Jo, and I'm a nuclear safety engineer at AtkinsRéalis. My primary role is to provide engineering and safety advice during the design and operation of nuclear facilities and for the
![](/Blob/img/user_no_image.jpg)
by
Shailaja Mantha
![Construction projects in Riyadh - the city from an aerial view](https://attraxcdnprod1-freshed3dgayb7c3.z01.azurefd.net/1481103/43cc2251-abc6-42a6-bf07-36e410f33bf7/2023.17000.2547/img/GMVm1QEtGEHPsQjaDNNiZg/75/Riyadh.jpg)
Preview
Middle EastContent type
BlogsPublish date
07/12/2024
Summary
Skip to Quantity Surveying jobs in Riyadh The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is in the midst of a period of economic and sustainability-led transformation. Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al-Saud (MBS)
![Photo of Jo smiling for the camera](https://attraxcdnprod1-freshed3dgayb7c3.z01.azurefd.net/1481103/43cc2251-abc6-42a6-bf07-36e410f33bf7/2023.17000.2547/img/i7X_O905VkVDXAjcoieojA/75/JO+TN+(1).png)
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
07/11/2024
Summary
Hello! My name is Jo. As a Nuclear Safety Engineer at AtkinsRéalis, my experience so far has seen me work across various project lifecycles - from generic design assessments to nuclear new bui
![](/Blob/img/user_no_image.jpg)
by
Shailaja Mantha
![Picture of Mei smiling in front of a screen.](https://attraxcdnprod1-freshed3dgayb7c3.z01.azurefd.net/1481103/43cc2251-abc6-42a6-bf07-36e410f33bf7/2023.17000.2547/img/kMLdoAfTNU6hLQjcpIXZ2Q/75/Mei+1.png)
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
07/11/2024
Summary
I'm Mei, a chartered engineer with extensive experience in water and wastewater engineering projects in the UK and internationally. I’m the Water Sector Lead and Project Director in AtkinsRéal
![](/Blob/img/user_no_image.jpg)
by
Shailaja Mantha
![A Picture of Paul smiling.](https://attraxcdnprod1-freshed3dgayb7c3.z01.azurefd.net/1481103/43cc2251-abc6-42a6-bf07-36e410f33bf7/2023.17000.2547/img/RBMGnUs9gkJQ5gjcoHiKiQ/75/paul+miller+(2).png)
Preview
EuropeContent type
BlogsPublish date
07/10/2024
Summary
Hello. My name is Paul, and I'm the Practice Director for Risk at AtkinsRéalis. Risk management is a dynamic field where problem solvers thrive on keeping projects and programmes secure and on
![](/Blob/img/user_no_image.jpg)
by
Shailaja Mantha
AtkinsRéalis
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We’re devoted to growing the diversity of our people, promoting an inclusive culture, providing everyone with an equal voice because simply put, it’s the right thing to do. Click to learn more.
Find out more