The Weight We Carry: Mental Health in Construction — A Woman’s Perspective
- Nathalie Monfiston
- May 27
- 5 min read
A Letter to the Women Who Build
I have been in and around the construction industry long enough to know that it celebrates three things more than anything else: speed, toughness, results. What it rarely celebrates — or even acknowledges — is the emotional toll paid by the people who are working by these standards daily.
Every beam lifted, every foundation poured, every 6 AM site walk in August heat carries a cost that never shows up in a scope of work. Instead, it manifests itself in rising anxiety, poor sleep habits, strained relationships, and far too many funerals.
For every woman who has ever stood on a job site and wondered if anyone saw how much she was carrying. We see you. And these numbers prove you are not imagining it.
You can be strong and still need support. You can be capable and still be carrying too much.
An Industry-Wide Crisis
Mental health challenges in construction aren’t a personal failure—they’re a systemic issue. The demands of the job, the culture, and the instability many workers face create real risk.
Here’s what the data tells us:
64% of U.S. construction workers reported depression or anxiety in the past 12 months.
Construction workers have a suicide rate four times higher than the general population.
Less than 5% of construction workers see a mental health professional compared to 22% of all U.S. adults.
If an industry can build skyscrapers, bridges, and communities—then we can build a culture where people don’t suffer in silence.
According to a 2024 global review published by the National Institutes of Health (PMC), work-related stress is a major contributing factor to the high number of deaths from suicide and mental disorders among construction workers worldwide. According to the CDC, construction ranks second among all occupations for deaths by suicide, with over 5,000 deaths per year.
Why Construction Workers Are Especially Vulnerable
Construction is demanding in ways that don’t clock out at the end of the day. Many workers face a combination of physical strain and constant uncertainty.
Long hours and early starts that disrupt sleep and recovery
Physical wear-and-tear, chronic pain, and injuries
Extreme weather exposure—heat, storms, humidity, and cold
High-pressure deadlines and a ‘no mistakes’ environment
Job instability, seasonal work, and unpredictable schedules
Financial stress from gaps in work, overtime dependence, or fluctuating income
Higher risk of substance use as a coping mechanism
When your body is depleted and your mind is constantly on alert, stress doesn’t just ‘go away.’ It builds.
The Silent Stigma
In many job sites and shops, mental health is still treated like a weakness—or worse, a liability. People worry they’ll be judged, passed over, or labeled as ‘not tough enough.’
So silence becomes normal. And when silence becomes normal, people stop reaching out—until they’re in crisis.
Stigma doesn’t just keep people quiet. It keeps people unsafe.
Women in Construction: The Perspective We Don’t Talk About Enough
Women carry the same job pressures as everyone else—plus the added weight of being ‘the only one’ far too often.
Women make up about 10% of the construction workforce.
31% of women in construction report high perceived stress compared to 18% of men.
Women in male-dominated industries are more likely to experience workplace stress.
Many women report harassment, discrimination, lack of respect, and exclusion.
That combination can create a constant background stress: proving yourself, staying alert, and trying not to be ‘too much’—too emotional, too assertive, too quiet, too ambitious.
The Unique Pressures Women Face
The minority tax
Being one of the few can mean extra emotional labor—representing your gender, correcting assumptions, and feeling like every mistake reflects on more than just you.
Harassment as a health hazard
Harassment isn’t ‘drama.’ It’s a workplace safety issue. It impacts stress levels, sleep, confidence, and long-term mental health—especially when reporting feels risky or pointless.
Exclusion by design
Sometimes exclusion is loud. Sometimes it’s subtle: being left out of conversations, not being trained, not being invited into the network where opportunities are shared.
Work-life imbalance and caregiving
Many women are balancing demanding schedules with caregiving responsibilities. When the job expects total availability, something has to give—and it’s often rest.
The loneliness of leadership
When women move into leadership, the pressure can intensify. You’re expected to lead flawlessly, stay composed, and ‘handle it’—even when you’re carrying the weight of everyone else’s expectations.
Leadership shouldn’t require loneliness.
Weather, Seasons, and the Hidden Cost of the Elements
In Southwest Florida, the elements aren’t just uncomfortable—they can be mentally draining. Heat and humidity can increase fatigue, irritability, and dehydration, and they can disrupt sleep even after you get home.
Over time, that can look like:
Shorter tempers and lower patience—at work and at home
More mistakes due to fatigue and slower reaction time
Sleep disruption and difficulty ‘shutting off’
Feeling emotionally worn down without knowing why
Seasonal work can add another layer: uncertainty, gaps in income, and the stress of not knowing what the next month will bring.
What Needs to Change
Mental health pledges and resources matter—but real progress requires cultural transformation. We can’t just hand people a hotline and call it support. We have to change what’s tolerated, what’s modeled, and what’s expected.
What Meaningful Change Looks Like
Here are practical shifts that make a real difference—on job sites, in offices, and across leadership:
Leadership modeling vulnerability (talking openly about stress, burnout, and getting help)
Anti-harassment policies with real accountability
Mental health days and realistic scheduling practices
Anonymous mental health support options
Mentorship for women and minorities
Suicide prevention training
Proper PPE, restrooms, and facilities for all workers
Destigmatizing help-seeking—treating it like any other form of safety
A safer job site includes psychological safety—not just hard hats and harnesses.
SWFL Women in Construction’s Mission
At SWFL Women in Construction, we believe community is a form of protection. When women can connect, share what’s real, and support each other without judgment, the weight gets lighter.
We’re here to create space for honest conversations—about leadership, opportunity, respect, and the pressure we carry. You don’t have to navigate this industry alone.
For every woman in this industry who has ever felt alone on a job site or in a boardroom: you are seen, you are valued, and your presence here matters.
Resources & Crisis Support
If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available. If you’re in immediate danger, call local emergency services.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
CIASP: preventconstructionsuicide.com
NAWIC: nawic.org
CPWR: cpwr.com
OSHA Suicide Prevention Resources: osha.gov/preventingsuicides
SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
References & Sources
1. Clayco / NAMI Mental Health Survey (2025). Mental Health Issues Climb Among Construction Workers. Engineering News-Record & Scripps News. enr.com
2. CPWR — Center for Construction Research and Training (2024). Data Bulletin: Suicide and Mental Health in Construction. cpwr.com
3. Harris, W., Trueblood, A. B., et al. (2024). Suicides Among Construction Workers in the United States, 2021. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. Wiley.
4. Mehany, M.S.H.M., Fisher, G.G., et al. (2024). Assessment of Construction Workers’ Mental Health to Improve Wellbeing. CDC/CPWR. stacks.cdc.gov
5. OSHA. Preventing Suicides in Construction. osha.gov/preventingsuicides
6. CIASP — Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention. preventconstructionsuicide.com
7. Travelers Insurance. Suicide in the Construction Industry: Psychosocial Risk Factors. travelers.com
8. NAWIC. Mental Health and Safety Issues Facing Female Builders & Breaking the Silence. nawic.org
9. Seixas, N. et al. (2018). Gendered Safety and Health Risks in the Construction Trades. PubMed. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29471382
10. U.S. Department of Labor (2024). 5 Ways Construction Employers Can Create Safer Workplaces for Women. blog.dol.gov
11. Zhang, S., Tang, M., et al. (2025). What Mental Health Topics Do Female Practitioners Discuss in the Construction Industry? CIB Conferences / Purdue.
12. Taylor & Francis (2026). Women’s Well-Being in Construction: A Systematic Review of Hazards and Primary Preventive Measures. International Journal of Construction Management. tandfonline.com
13. KFF Health News (2025). Beyond Hard Hats: Mental Struggles Become the Deadliest Construction Industry Danger. kffhealthnews.org
14. American Psychological Association (2023). Women in Male-Dominated Industries and Workplace Stress. via GGDF.org
15. Comfy Workers UK (2023). A Year in Construction Mental Health: Have Things Improved in 2023? comfyworkers.com
16. University of Washington DEOHS (2018). Gender Discrimination Poses Challenges for Construction Workers. deohs.washington.edu
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