Enhancing access to mental well-being in the UK construction industry

The UK construction industry is effectively caught in the web of poor workplace mental health challenges. The presence and management of mental health issues in the construction environment are rated as the worst among other industries in the country, with high rates of stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidality among its workforce. Despite the seriousness of these issues, most construction employees lack access to mental health initiatives. There is also a lack of leadership and concerted efforts to prioritise mental health support initiatives to buffer workers' well-being. The thesis aims to develop a framework for enhancing access to mental well-being in the UK construction industry (UKCI). A conceptual framework was developed from the literature to synthesise the systemic interrelated factors influencing access to mental well-being in the UK construction industry. It captures the interlinked factors such as stigma and masculine culture, leadership and organisational commitment, industry fragmentation and workplace patterns, awareness and education, Policy and regulatory environment, and resource availability. This framework provided the theoretical basis for the research design and guided the development of interview protocols, survey instruments and the interpretation of findings. The research adopts a pragmatist philosophy, employing a sequential mixed-methods approach that begins with initial qualitative interviews to inform a subsequent structured quantitative survey. Thematic analysis was used to explore the qualitative data, and non-parametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, and Spearman Rank Correlation) were applied to determine the degree of differences and association among the various predictor factors in the study. The study reveals persistent gaps in leadership commitment, unequal access across firms and the absence of legal and regulatory enforcement. Based on these insights, the study presents a novel framework for enhancing access to mental well-being in the UK, aiming to address the existing knowledge gap. The framework advocates for the establishment of a designated body (Mental Well-Being Executive (MWBE), designed to centralise responsibility, standardise implementation, and improve access to mental well-being across the construction industry. Abigail Amoah 4 While the study provides significant insights and a practical framework, it acknowledges certain limitations. Notably, the stigma surrounding mental health in the construction industry influenced participant response rates and necessitated adjustments to the sampling frame. The study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on mental health in the workplace by providing a novel structure that ensures a designated body is solely responsible for managing mental well-being, thereby ensuring consistency and access to mental health services for all construction employees in the industry.