Construction industry mental wellness

Understanding what mental health is and the impact it has on all different facets of wellbeing is crucial for construction organizations and their employees. Disturbingly, statistics show that construction workers are at a higher risk for mental health issues and suicide compared to other sectors. To address this complex issue, we worked with SAVE to create Ideal Body, Environment, and Mind (IBEAM). IBEAM is a suicide prevention training program made specifically for the construction industry that gives organizations the tools they need to prevent suicide.

Understanding the mental health crisis in construction

The construction sector faces a serious mental health crisis, with data showing that workers are more susceptible to anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation than those in other professions.

Tragically, the suicide rate in construction is among the highest of any industry. We lose more than five times the number of workers by suicide annually than job-site accidents. Suicide in the U.S. is one of the top 10 leading causes of death. And it accounts for more than one in every 100 deaths worldwide. We're seeing a high rate of suicides that are preventable. The approach that we should really take is that every suicide death is something that we can prevent. Factors contributing to mental health challenges include prolonged stress from tight deadlines, job insecurity and extended working hours, leading to burnout. The physically demanding nature of construction work, coupled with a culture that often discourages open discussions about mental health, exacerbates these issues. Many workers experience isolation and refrain from seeking help due to stigma, complicating their struggles further.

Traditional industry loss control and safety efforts focus almost entirely on physical loss and greatly ignore mental health and wellness. We need to look at worker's health and safety more holistically, by addressing not only physical welfare but mental and emotional wellbeing as well.

Investing in employee’s wellbeing is something that should be top of mind for all organizations across the industry. This investment would mean employees would bring that additional health back to the job in the form of increased productivity, decreased injury and illness risk, decreased health care spending and more engagement at their work. 

Through the IBEAM program, we’re helping workplaces identify signs of distress and provide critical resources to those who need them.

What IBEAM aims to achieve?

• Improve mental health outcomes across the construction workforce.
• Decrease the suicide rate in one of the highest-risk industries.
• Create connected, empathetic workplace communities where every employee feels supported.
• Change workplace culture to prioritize proactive mental health support at all levels.
• IBEAM isn't just training — it’s a cultural shift in how construction companies talk about and act on mental health and suicide prevention.
• By empowering workers and leadership alike, IBEAM helps build safer, stronger and more supportive job sites.

How IBEAM works?

IBEAM is delivered through a mix of videos, interactive modules and print materials.

The program is stratified into three tiers, ensuring that every level of an organization is engaged:

• IBEAM Executive – A brief online module produced for leadership explaining the importance of mental health and their role in suicide prevention.
• IBEAM Supervisor — An online, in-depth skills-based training designed for those responsible for safety and wellbeing of others concentrating on company mental health policies, response strategies, and identifying signs of crisis.
• IBEAM Workforce — A versatile video based educational series with supporting handouts created for the general workforce focusing on mental health and suicide prevention awareness.

Learn more about IBEAM here and for more information on suicide prevention, please visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Disclaimer

WTW hopes you found the general information provided here informative and helpful. The information contained herein is not intended to constitute legal or other professional advice and should not be relied upon in lieu of consultation with your own legal advisors. In the event you would like more information regarding your insurance coverage, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. In North America, WTW offers insurance products through licensed entities, including Willis Towers Watson Northeast, Inc. (in the United States) and Willis Canada Inc. (in Canada).