The Wounded Workforce officially launched the Center for Construction Mental Health, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to address the mental health crisis threatening construction workforce stability, safety performance, and project delivery nationwide.

The Center moves beyond crisis intervention to provide contractors with construction-specific training, certification programs, and operational tools that proactively support worker mental health before problems escalate to suicide, substance abuse, or workplace tragedies.

The Crisis By the Numbers

Construction workers face mental health risks at alarming rates. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, construction has one of the highest suicide rates of any industry, with construction workers dying by suicide at a rate nearly four times higher than the general population. The industry also experiences disproportionately high rates of substance use disorders and overdose deaths, with opioid-related fatalities among construction workers significantly exceeding national averages.

Meanwhile, mental health-related absences and presenteeism cost contractors an estimated $1 billion annually in lost productivity.

"For too long, our industry's mental health response has been reactive—crisis hotlines, peer support after a suicide, or intervention after someone's already struggling with addiction," said Stephanie Lemek, Founder and CEO of The Wounded Workforce and former construction HR executive. "We're losing skilled workers to preventable deaths. The Center exists to shift the industry toward proactive support that addresses stress, trauma exposure, and mental health before workers reach a crisis point."

From Crisis Response to Proactive Prevention

Unlike crisis-focused initiatives, the Center's approach targets upstream factors: chronic stress from long hours and job insecurity, cumulative trauma exposure from witnessing injuries and fatalities, social isolation in transient workforces, and the "tough it out" culture that prevents workers from seeking help early.

The Center operates on three core pillars designed to build protective factors into daily operations:

• Leadership & Workforce Training: Construction-tailored education on trauma exposure, burnout, secondary trauma, and stress management for foremen, superintendents, safety directors, and executives—equipping leaders to recognize early warning signs and intervene before crises develop
• Certification & Professional Development: Industry-recognized certification pathways and micro-credentials that normalize mental health conversations, reduce stigma, and build leadership capability to create psychologically safe work environments
• Systems Integration: Frameworks and tools to embed proactive mental health support into safety protocols, hiring practices, and organizational culture—treating mental health as a leading indicator, not just a crisis response

Addressing Root Causes in Construction Environments

The Center's approach accounts for construction-specific stressors that generic wellness programs miss: extended jobsite exposure to traumatic incidents, economic volatility and layoff cycles, physical demands that compound mental strain, and the cumulative toll on frontline supervisors who often carry responsibility for worker wellbeing without adequate training or support.

"Construction has embraced safety stand-downs, toolbox talks, and incident investigations because we know prevention works," Lemek said. "We need to apply that same proactive mindset to mental health. You can't wait until someone's in crisis—by then, you've often already lost them."

Beyond Benefits: Building Capability

While construction companies have expanded Employee Assistance Programs, suicide prevention hotlines, and mental health benefits in recent years, utilization remains critically low. Studies show fewer than 5% of workers access available mental health resources, and safety incidents tied to fatigue, stress, and substance use continue to rise.

Industry experts point to a missing link: proactive leadership training and operational integration that addresses mental health before it becomes a crisis.

"You can't solve a systems problem with a crisis hotline," Lemek said. "Construction leaders need practical skills to recognize early warning signs, have difficult conversations, and create environments where asking for help doesn't end your career. This requires building everyday capability, not just emergency resources."

Industry-Wide Collaboration

The Center will partner with general contractors, specialty trade contractors, owners, insurers, trade associations, and safety councils to scale evidence-informed, proactive practices across the industry. Programming includes live and virtual training, leadership briefings, organizational assessments, and downloadable field resources.

"The construction industry has made incredible progress on physical safety over the past two decades," Lemek added. "We have the same opportunity with mental health—but only if we're willing to invest in prevention, not just crisis response."

Get Started: Programs Now Available

The Center for Construction Mental Health is open and ready to work with construction organizations nationwide.

Available now:

• Leadership and workforce training (live and virtual formats)
• Industry-recognized certification pathways
• Organizational assessments and implementation support
• Downloadable field resources and toolbox talk materials

Construction companies, contractors, owners, trade associations, and safety councils can register for programs or explore partnership opportunities today.

To learn more or schedule a consultation, visit The Wounded Workforce's Center for Construction Mental Health™ or contact Stephanie Lemek at [email protected]