The behavioral health crisis facing construction is intimidating—the industry has the highest rate of overdose deaths and the second-highest rate of suicides compared to all other U.S. industries—but it’s not insurmountable. Leaders in construction have reached a consensus that the old philosophy of telling workers to leave their problems at home simply doesn’t work. Construction workers need a toolbox of behavioral and mental health resources they can rely on for support, and they have to feel comfortable asking for help when they need it.
Identifying the Problem
Several factors have contributed to the critical situation we find ourselves in regarding substance use and behavioral health, but to put it simply, construction is a tough job both physically and mentally. Muscle and bone injuries are common, and doctors often prescribe opioids for pain management. Opioids are highly addictive, and even prescribed use can very quickly escalate into dependence or an opioid use disorder. Additional factors like seasonal work and no paid sick leave may push employees to work even when they’re not mentally or physically ready.
And while not unique to just construction, we also need to consider the family members. Families are a system, and when one family member struggles, everyone struggles. If your child is battling a substance use issue or your spouse is fighting depression, you may be preoccupied with their safety. Physical safety on a jobsite requires you to be present in the moment, to remember to put safety gear on, to clip into a harness, and to be aware of construction vehicles operating near you. But when a family member is struggling, these regular work routines can be easy to forget.
Why Don’t People Get Help?
The fact is that only a small number of people ever reach out for treatment. In a 2023 report, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported that 94.7 percent of adults who needed treatment for a substance use disorder (SUD) did not receive it. Further, about 53 percent of American adults do not get help for their mental health-related challenges. We see three main gaps in treatment that prevent people from getting help:
- Stigma. Construction work often values a “tough guy” mentality. If you’re hurt, rub some dirt on it, and get back to work. Employees may fear being seen as weak, getting passed over for the next job, or not advancing in their career. Additionally, there is a common misperception in the American public that SUD and mental health-related challenges are moral failings or character flaws instead of something that needs support to be properly addressed.
- Misunderstanding of what treatment is. For SUD, the idea of having to stop your life to go to a treatment facility for even 30 days can seem impossible. Further, the thought of having to remain abstinent from drugs or alcohol for the rest of your life is intimidating and keeps people from getting help. For behavioral health treatment, people may think their situation isn’t bad enough to warrant support or that they can “fix it” on their own. They may think therapy doesn’t really work, or they may actually want treatment but lack access in their area.
- The scope of treatment puts the onus of engagement on the individual. Recovery is possible if someone stays engaged. Too often, treatment doesn’t involve family education and support to heal the family system, and it relies too much on the person struggling to be responsible for their own outcomes.
How Youturn Health Works
We founded Youturn Health to address these three gaps in treatment. As people in long-term recovery from substance use disorder and as people who’ve managed behavioral health-related challenges over our lifetimes, we have the lived experience to understand the unique difficulties and nuances of SUD and behavioral health support.
Youturn Health is a virtual support program that helps people through life stressors like depression, anxiety, grief, substance use, and thoughts of suicide. The Youturn Health program includes:
- Online education with access to a video library with more than 450 educational and inspirational videos to provide an understanding of behavioral health struggles and coping strategies.
- Peer coaching support from trained and certified professionals who use their own lived experience and evidence-based strategies to help guide participants to develop new behaviors and identify additional means of support.
- Support and access for family members. Inclusive family support is vital to successful, long-term outcomes, so family members have access to the benefits of Youturn Health at no additional cost.
We are pleased to partner with the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) to provide these behavioral health tools to its members, including those affiliated through the Long Island Contractors’ Association (LICA). The partnership entitles members to discounted pricing and is specifically catered to meet the needs of small-to-medium-sized businesses. ARTBA will not profit from this partnership. Any royalties that materialize will be used to further discount services or donated to a worthy charity.
To learn more about how Youturn Health can help ARTBA members, please visit youturnhealth.com/artba.
