PROJECT EXCHANGE CAREERS SUBCONTRACTORS THE COMPANY EXPERTISE OUR WORK NEWS CONTACT News / Mental Health Matters News Mental Health Matters 05/14/2021 The National Institute of Mental Health states one in five adults are affected by a behavioral health condition, and yet, only about half seek treatment.1 When considering occupation, the construction industry consistently ranks at the top in terms of most at risk for suicide.2 The stress of our industry is nothing new, however, we have only recently started to open up about how this affects our mental health and wellbeing. Industry stressors have only been amplified by COVID-19, making it crucial to continue to address employee mental health, talk openly about coping strategies, and reduce the stigma associated with mental health.3 While all occupations have their own trials and tribulations, construction is consistently rated as one of the most stressful industries to work in. This is attributed to a variety of factors including3: Significant safety risks on jobsites Deadline-driven projects Increased prevalence of physical toll and chronic pain Long hours and demanding schedules While it is important to take care of ourselves and our own wellbeing, it’s also important to talk openly with others about our struggles with mental health. In doing so, we can cultivate a culture of communication and support and, ultimately, promote a safe and inclusive environment for all. At HBC, we implement a variety of practices to actively care for ourselves and one another in the workplace. This includes: Providing employees with free resources and benefits, including a robust Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Establishing an active and dedicated Wellness Committee Encouraging team lunches and out-of-office activities Hosting company-sponsored social events and retreats Connecting with one another regularly via video conferencing and/or phone calls In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, HBC is hosting several events for our employees throughout May, such as: Mental Health Coping Strategies Mindfulness Webinar Guided Meditation Succulent Planting Event By supporting wellness and communication, we hope to encourage mental health awareness while reducing stigma. In doing so, we can move towards a more open and ultimately safer industry. Resources National Alliance on Mental Illness, nami.org National Institute of Mental Health, nimh.nih.gov National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, theactionalliance.org Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cdc.gov/mentalhealth Suicide Prevention Resource Center, sprc.org National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line, TEXT 741741 Footnotes National Alliance on Mental Illness. “Mental Health Facts in America.” March 2021. https://www.nami.org/mhstats Peterson, Cora and Deborah M. Stone, Suzanne M. Marsh, et al. “Suicide Rates by Major Occupational Group — 17 States, 2012 and 2015.” MMWR Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report, 2018. http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6745a1external icon. Beyda, Emily. “Why Mental Health in the Construction Industry Cannot Be Ignored.” Built: The Bluebeam Blog, September 2, 2020. https://blog.bluebeam.com/why-mental-health-in-the-construction-industry-cannot-be-ignored/ CORPORATE CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT GIVE BACK GOLF EMPLOYEES PEOPLE NEWS UPDATES HOAG MEDICAL HEALTH IRVINE OC ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH CENTER CONSTRUCTION MANUFACTURING HOWARD BUILDING CORPORATION PROJECTS MEGGITT CONTROL SYSTEMS LUXURY HANDBAGS TI TENANT IMPROVEMENT RETAIL RETAIL SPACE LOS ANGELES LIVING WALL EXTERIOR HEALTHCARE MEDICAL BUILDING AWARD HREI HREI INSIGHT AWARDS LEED SUSTAINABILITY LABC Archives NOV 2021 SEP 2021 AUG 2021 MAY 2021 APR 2021 MAR 2021 JAN 2021 NOV 2020 OCT 2020 SEP 2020 AUG 2020 JUL 2020 MAY 2020 MAR 2020 JAN 2020 NOV 2019 SEP 2019 JUL 2019 JUN 2019 APR 2019 MAR 2019 DEC 2018 SEP 2018 AUG 2018 NOV 2017 MAY 2017 DEC 2016 NOV 2016 OCT 2016 SEP 2016 JUL 2016 MAR 2016 FEB 2016 JAN 2016 NOV 2015 OCT 2015 SEP 2015 AUG 2015 JUL 2015 MAR 2015 FEB 2015 JAN 2015 DEC 2014 NOV 2014 © 2021 Howard Building Corporation (An Employee-Owned Company). All Rights Reserved. Youtube Instagram Facebook LinkedIn