Mental Health in the Construction Industry: A Qualitative Study

Mental health issues are prevalent among construction workers because of the industry's unique challenges such as a high-pressure environment, long working hours, and strenuous physical demands. This study aimed to identify and examine the key psychological hazards and underlying themes that contribute to these problems by applying a qualitative approach that employed a thematic analysis of the experiences of 22 construction practitioners. Semistructured interviews were conducted to capture the participants' perceptions of the mental health risk factors in the construction industry, and the data were analyzed to identify the recurring themes and key factors. The analysis identified four main themes: stigma, workplace factors, role-specific factors, and lack of support and recognition in the workplace, and investigated 13 across-the-board factors that highlight their impact. The findings of this study will contribute to the development of interventions targeted at improving mental health awareness, reducing the stigma surrounding it, and promoting a healthier work environment in the construction sector.