As of the beginning of 2026, a total of 2.24m people were in contact with mental health services, with over 485,000 new referrals received in the month of January alone. Around one in four UK adults will deal with a mental health problem every single year, while only one in eight actually receives treatment.

In fact, around 35% of young people (aged 18-25) dealing with a mental health difficulty don’t seek any help – whether formal or informal. 22% of those suffering in silence say that it’s the stigma around mental health that is the most significant barrier to them accessing assistance.

One sector facing a significant mental health crisis is that of construction. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, Lighthouse – a charity providing free emotional, physical and financial support to construction workers and their families – reported a 25% increase in those looking for support. The charity also saw a 44% increase in counselling sessions in this period, when compared to 2025.

While these figures reveal a welcome shift in attitudes, with more people feeling confident enough to speak up, it’s also concerning that so many in the sector are struggling with their mental health. This is why it’s so vital that construction companies continue to open up the conversation around mental health. With insights provided by national painting contractors, Alfred Bagnall & Sons, let’s take a look at how and why attitudes are changing in the construction sector.

Persistent and damaging stigma

2026 research shows that almost 70% of employees pretend to be mentally and physically well at work, when the opposite is true – an increase of 18% in the last five years. Within the construction sector alone, 67% of workers feel pressure to conceal physical and mental illness when in the workplace, with almost one in three admitting to doing so regularly.

The male-dominated space of the construction sector is often still rooted in a culture of keeping a ‘stiff upper lip’ and machismo, which makes it harder for those struggling to speak up. Devastatingly, the construction sector has the highest rate of suicide of any industry in the UK, with male construction workers three times more likely to die by suicide, compared to men working within other sectors.

The rate of death by suicide for those working within the construction sector is almost five times that of other causes of fatality onsite – it’s also four times higher than the rate of suicide within the general populace.

Construction companies must address this crisis, opening up judgement-free channels of communication and breaking down outdated taboos around mental health and masculinity.

Ellie Jobes, Group People Director at Bagnalls, comments, “This doesn’t just mean addressing problems as they arise, it also means tackling the roots of the problem. We need to create a culture where men feel comfortable enough to speak out when they are struggling.”

Financial concerns

When it comes to mental health at work, we have to address some of the underlying concerns that perpetuate issues – one of the main ones today being financial pressure. Research shows that more than 30% of those facing issues with debt saw their mental health worsen due to their situation, while those behind on their household bills are twice as likely to deal with very poor mental health.

Around 7m of us in the UK have fallen behind with at least one bill payment. But even among those who are not yet in financial difficulties, the issue still prevails. 50% who report worrying about money, despite not having yet fallen behind with payments, also report poor or very poor mental health.

It’s not just individuals who are affected by these financial implications. Negative mental health costs UK businesses more than £50bn every single year, with £28bn of this loss directly linked to stress-related absences and the issue of burnout. Yet, still, less than 40% of UK organisation leaders speak openly about the issue of mental health.

A recent report from the HSE identifies five causes of mental health issues within the construction industry as: physical strain, job insecurity, long hours and stigmatisation. Job insecurity in particular is made worse by tightening budgets and rigid deadlines piling on the pressure, as well as personal finance problems leading to excessive overtime and further burnout.

Avenues of support

In response to this ongoing crisis, a number of crucial avenues of support have thankfully sprung up across the country. One such avenue comes from MHFA England, which offers tailored training and support resources to workplaces across the UK, with the goal of educating one in ten individuals in mental health awareness and skills. The organisation aims to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health and foster an environment where discussing mental wellbeing is embraced.

The MHFA course teaches the ability to listen attentively, provide reassurance and respond effectively to individuals dealing with mental health issues and concerns. Wellness Action Plans can also provide a valuable alternative. These plans help employers understand their staff requirements and concerns, making conversations that may be perceived as uncomfortable easier to navigate.

Various strategies can be adopted by construction companies to cultivate a more transparent culture.

As Ellie explains: “Providing proper mental health support should be a requirement for businesses in any sector, but companies working in construction have a particular responsibility.

“Awareness and access to support needs to be provided more widely to reduce the high suicide rate amongst people working in the construction industry. It’s vital that companies operating within this sector make their employees aware of the support that’s available.”