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How (And why) Wisconsin Contractors Should Address Employee Mental Health Issues

The COVID pandemic has aggravated an already serious global health mental health epidemic. While the State of Wisconsin has moved into second place among states in how effectively it provides access to care, the time is ripe for the private sector to step up its game, too.

And the urgency may be the greatest for the construction industry, whose workers are more at risk than any others. According to the Construction Industry Rehabilitation Plan’s (CIRP) research, 83% of workers have experienced mental health issues to some extent. Further, the industry’s suicide rate surpasses all others, at 53.2 per 100,000 workers.

There’s a price to be paid for not acting.

It makes good business sense to foster shifts in the culture and environment that make the industry such a hazard to employee mental health. Better management of the risks that create the issue has a payoff: every dollar spent in mental health services returns $4 in improved health and productivity, according to the National Safety Council (NSC).

Putting a series of best practices in place can provide the framework of an effective mental health program.

1. Raise awareness. Part of the construction industry’s challenge with mental wellness revolves around the stigma it carries. It takes an openness to discussion. It takes intervention that’s easily accessed.

2. Manage the work/environmental/cultural psycho-social risks. When mental health is stigmatized, employees may feel pressured to use physical ailments to excuse the mental health days they really need.

3. Assess the needs; measure the impact of solutions. It’s not easy to turn a culture around. It takes more than a one-and-done mental health “campaign” to solve persistent burnout issues. A consistent and integrated program is the best fix.

4. Count on evidence-based, quality solutions. The best resources for quality mental health services are safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient and equitable.

5. Mental health initiatives are key to comprehensive wellness programs. Integrating mental health programs into the broader wellness program requires understanding and structuring solutions around the eight dimensions of mental health and well-being.

To learn more about how to create an effective mental health strategy in your workplace visit hubinternational. com/blog/2022/04/workplace-mental-health-strategy/

John Wallen Vice President and Wisconsin Construction Practice Leader Hub International

www.hubinternational.com

About the author: John Wallen is Vice President and Wisconsin Construction Practice Leader for global insurance brokerage Hub International. He has more than 30 years of experience providing risk management consulting, effective insurance solutions and innovative risk and cost reduction strategies for the construction industry. John is active in multiple construction industry trade associations including ABC, AGC, ASA, Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Associations as well as the Construction and Financial Management Association. John has been a featured speaker for several of these and other construction associations on various risk management topics.