The Silent Crisis: Construction's Mental Health Imperative
Owners Perspective Magazine | Fall 2026
by: R. Corey Clayborne, FAIA; President of the Construction Industry Round Table
When we think about safety and well-being in the construction industry, we instinctively focus on the hazards that are known and that we can see.
Flashes of personal protective equipment (PPE) quickly come to mind like helmets with scuffs and stickers that celebrate one’s accomplishments and team successes; neon safety vests that proudly display the company’s logo on the back like athletes wear their name and number on their jerseys.
Yet, one of the most pressing safety issues facing our industry is one that often goes undetected.
It is mental health, and in particular, suicide.
Construction has the second highest suicide rate of any industry in the U.S. 1, surpassed only by mining. According to the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), nearly one in five deaths (18%) by suicide in 2023, occurred in the construction industry 2. These sobering statistics are largely attributed to a number of factors which create a perfect storm including high-stakes deadlines, long and demanding hours, prolonged separation from family and friends, chronic physical pain, job and financial instability, and substance use.1 This data point is staggering when construction workers represent only about 7% of the total workforce 2. To put a finer point on this statistic, that means 5,095 families were forever changed that year, left to carry the heartache of losing a loved one forever.
Construction has a deeply ingrained culture of “toughness”, which can discourage vulnerability. Based on recent data from design-build firm Clayco, nearly two-thirds of construction workers reported experiencing depression or anxiety within the last year, a troubling 12% increase over the prior year’s figures 3. We can no longer afford to be bystanders watching passively. As leaders across the design and construction industry, we have a responsibility to prioritize the importance of mental health by becoming active and committed participants in the solution. That will require us to broaden our definition of safety to include not only physical safety, but the mental health and well-being of those working in the industry. The same precision, care, and intentionality we bring to designing and constructing safe buildings and infrastructure must now be also directed towards building a safe and healthy industry culture.
Leadership begins with action. Below are five meaningful steps Construction Owners can take immediately to advance mental health and well-being across their organizations and the broader industry:
- Procurement as a Platform for Change
Construction Owners hold significant influence at the procurement stage, which can be a powerful catalyst for change. By requiring Offerors to demonstrate an active mental health program as a condition of qualification, Owners can emphasize the importance of this element of organizational culture. Requiring Offerors to explain their ongoing organizational strategy around mental health while providing a designated corporate and jobsite point of contact into RFP requirements places this issue alongside other critical evaluation criteria. When scoring Offerors, mental health readiness can and should carry weight as a meaningful element of a best value analysis, reinforcing that the most qualified Offeror is not only technically capable, but committed to the holistic health of its workforce. - Budgeting for Human Dignity
Construction Owners set the tone for every project. Often, basic human needs are treated as an afterthought in project budgets in the General Conditions. Owners should intentionally allocate funding for job site facilities that bring dignity, pride, and equity to the workforce responsible for bringing a project to life. This means budgeting for adequate and safe parking, conditioned restrooms with running water, and proper sanitary hygiene facilities for women as a standard expectation. It also means providing sheltered, conditioned spaces where industry professionals can take a break or share a meal, protected from the extremities of weather. These investments in human dignity send a message to the professionals executing the work that they are seen and valued.
- Scheduling with Humanity in Mind
As an architect who previously managed large-scale multi-disciplinary projects, one of the most significant stressors of a project is its schedule. Every project carries urgency, driven by external pressures like building a new stadium in time for the start of the season to internal organizational priorities like meeting stakeholder turnover expectations. However, there is a difference between a demanding schedule and an unreasonable one. Construction Owners should establish project timelines that are ambitious yet practical, with adequate float built in for unforeseen conditions and realistic extensions for Owner changes. In addition, note clear, enforceable limits on overtime. Thoughtful schedule development is one of the most direct ways an Owner can set the tone for a project and be a contributor to positive mental health and well-being.
- The Kickoff Meeting as a Defining Moment
Once a project is awarded and the team is assembled, the preconstruction kickoff meeting is a tremendous opportunity for the Owner to set the cultural tone for the entire project. A typical agenda covers establishing governance structures, defining expectations, and aligning on keys to success. The kickoff agenda can be taken a step further and integrate mental health awareness into project safety. Owners can share mental health resources, introduce available support programs, and commit to hosting mental health events on site throughout the project’s duration. For future project meetings, this topic can be docketed as a standing agenda item with the same weight and seriousness the team exercises when discussing protocols for handling high-voltage electrical equipment, fall protection, or any other critical safety protocol.
- Measure What Matters
What gets measured gets managed. Once construction is underway, Owners should require the Contractor to report on mental health performance with the same rigor applied to physical safety metrics. Just as near-misses, incidents, and injuries are tracked and reported, mental health can have its own reporting attributes. We can measure the number of toolbox talks delivered, completed trainings, utilization of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), resources distributed, follow-up actions completed and other meaningful indicators. Requiring this level of transparency positions mental health awareness as a living commitment from the RFP response that is monitored and measured.
Forming an industry culture that embraces the health and well-being of the complete industry professional is also a catalyst for mitigating construction’s workforce shortage crisis. According to the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), the industry will need to add an estimated 349,000 net new workers in 2026 4. This number is projected to climb to 456,000 next year 4. Attracting the next generation of talent requires shaping an industry that’s healthy, respectful, and inviting. In a robust market, the Contractor has discretion to deploy their limited resources to build for the best clients. Implementing these critical steps will make you the Owner of choice.
As a Construction Owner, you set the vision. You define success. You are uniquely positioned to help drive this industry change that requires all hands on deck.
About: The Construction Industry Round Table (CIRT) is an exclusive network of CEOs and key executives representing the most influential design and construction firms in the industry. Collectively, its member organizations employ upward of 600,000 professionals and represent between 10 and 15 percent of the total U.S. construction market. It serves as a strategic catalyst for the industry, driving positive change through executive-level engagement, strong collaboration, and intentional action.
1 Construction Wellness. (2025). Understanding suicide in construction. https://www.constructionwellness.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Suicide-in-Construction.pdf
2 Prism Reports. (2025, August 26). The construction industry has a suicide crisis. Prism. https://prismreports.org/2025/08/26/construction-industry-suicide-crisis/
3 PR Newswire. (2025). Six in 10 construction workers experience anxiety and depression; executives acknowledge those who seek help often face stigma, discrimination.
4 Associated Builders and Contractors. "ABC: Construction Industry Must Attract 349,000 Workers in 2026 Despite Macroeconomic Headwinds." January 15, 2026. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/01/15/3219391/0/en/abc-construction-industry-must-attract-349-000-workers-in-2026-despite-macroeconomic-headwinds.html