Strength comes in many forms

By Emma Peterson. 

It is crucial for the roofing industry to prioritize mental health as job safety.  

We all know that working in the roofing and larger construction industries is hard work that takes a lot of strength. But beyond the physical demands, this work comes with a lot of mental requirements. From long hours to high-risk environments and job site isolation, the strength needed to work in our industry comes in many forms.  

Unfortunately, struggles with mental health, such as anxiety and depression go unnoticed or unreported because of the social stigmas our larger culture has about mental health and care. But we cannot go on like this. Paul Reed, one of the cofounders of Roofers in Recovery explained why, “The reality is staggering — suicide and overdose kill more construction workers than all other job-related fatalities combined. 88% of construction workers experience a mental health issue, and 80% don't seek help.” The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) also pointed to this issue in a video from earlier this year, citing a statistic from the Center for Construction Research and Training, “Roofers' suicide rates are five times higher than jobsite fatalities.”  

So what can we do about this? Roofers In Recovery have developed a Mental Health & Wellness Protocal packet that aims to help companies create “cultures where mental health is prioritized, employees feel supported and resources are readily available.” It will do this by: 

• Educating employees and professionals about different mental health issues their team members may be facing. This includes anxiety, depression, addiction and more. 
• Teaching managers and others in positions of leadership how to recognize early warning signs. Subsequently, equipping them with and encouraging the use of tools for early intervention protocols and ongoing support strategies.  
• Helping establish accessible resources for employees. This comes in a variety of forms, such as peer support programs and confidential assistance.  
• Creating cultures where every employee feels valued beyond their labor. This in turn will reduce workplace risks and make jobs safer and more efficient. 

The goal is that this packet can help raise awareness and provide clear, actionable steps for companies to break mental health stigmas, reduce workplace accidents, save lives and strengthen our entire industry and community for the future. As Paul puts it in the opening section of the packet, “This is a call to action for every business in our industry: The roofing and construction world is built on brotherhood, resilience and hard work — but we cannot afford to ignore the crisis happening within our ranks. It's time for us to step up and ensure that every worker has access to the support, resources and community they need to thrive.” 

Read the full Mental Health & Wellness Protocol packet online! You can also check out Roofers In Recovery’s website for more tools and information about supporting mental health in the industry.