idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft

Nachrichten, Termine, Experten

Grafik: idw-Logo
Science Video Project
idw-Abo

idw-News App:

AppStore

Google Play Store



Instance:
Share on: 
08/28/2024 09:18

Suicides in the construction industry are perceived to occur suddenly

Press Contact: Elin Lindström, tel. +46 766 18 30 37, e-mail press@sahlgrenska.gu.se Communications Department
Schwedischer Forschungsrat - The Swedish Research Council

    Construction workers can find it difficult to talk about mental health problems, and suicide among colleagues often comes as a shock. A study from the University of Gothenburg also links work-related pain to mental illness.

    Previous research has shown that male construction workers in Sweden have up to a 50% increased risk of suicide. For countries like the UK and the US, the figure is even higher.

    This study is based on interviews with 43 construction workers, trade union representatives and managers within the Swedish construction industry.

    Managers were highlighted as having an important role in mental health. The interviews described empathetic and supportive managers, but also managers who, for example, did not pay attention to mental health problems of their employees.

    One of the construction workers tells us: “I have signaled that I would not be feeling my best. The answer was “let's deal with that later, we need to finish the project first”. Then the next project starts.”

    Not seeking help

    The study supports the image of the construction industry as demanding, where the work climate in some workplaces is characterized by a macho culture and stigmatization of mental illness.

    “Our interviews revealed that many construction workers do not report or seek help when they feel mentally unwell, and that some self-medicate with alcohol and painkillers. We also see that there is a need for better procedures on how to deal with mental illness and clearer social support in the workplace,” says Kristina Aurelius, Associate Professor at Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg.

    Demanding work

    The study participants who had experienced suicide of a colleague described it as very unexpected. They had not noticed any signs that the colleague was feeling low or suicidal. They described it as a shocking experience, and that it had been difficult to understand what had happened.

    The working conditions in the construction industry was described as physically very demanding and stressful, which was perceived to have a negative effect on both physical and mental health. Study participants reported that the demanding working conditions often causes long-term pain, which in turn can lead to mental health problems and overconsumption of alcohol and painkillers.

    The study is published in the journal PLOS One, and has been conducted with the financial support of Afa Försäkring, which is owned by LO, PTK and the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise.

    More quotes from the interviews:

    “They don't give a shit that it takes an hour to install drywall, it should take 30 minutes. And then you end up with a schedule so tight that you can't get it done it most of the time. It gets bad. . . you have to work faster and in the end you get burnt out, sick, injured. . . it's a challenging industry.” (Construction worker)

    “Then we had a suicide that affected our group. Bang. . . and then there was a guy who committed suicide. Nobody knew anything, nobody had noticed anything, nobody had noticed anything at all. How the hell could this happen?” (Trade union representative)

    “Looking back, there are similarities among those who have taken their lives, and they are alcoholism and old age.” (Construction worker)


    Contact for scientific information:

    Kristina Aurelius, Associate Professor of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, tel. +46 720 01 42 08, e-mail kristina.aurelius@amm.gu.se

    Maria Åberg, Professor of General Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, tel. +46 709 66 82 74, e-mail maria.aberg@gu.se


    Original publication:

    Perceptions of mental health, suicide and working conditions in the construction industry - a qualitative study, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0307433


    Images

    Maria Åberg
    Maria Åberg
    foto: Johan Wingborg

    Kristina Aurelius
    Kristina Aurelius
    foto: Göteborgs universitet


    Criteria of this press release:
    Journalists
    Medicine
    transregional, national
    Research results
    English


     

    Maria Åberg


    For download

    x

    Kristina Aurelius


    For download

    x

    Help

    Search / advanced search of the idw archives
    Combination of search terms

    You can combine search terms with and, or and/or not, e.g. Philo not logy.

    Brackets

    You can use brackets to separate combinations from each other, e.g. (Philo not logy) or (Psycho and logy).

    Phrases

    Coherent groups of words will be located as complete phrases if you put them into quotation marks, e.g. “Federal Republic of Germany”.

    Selection criteria

    You can also use the advanced search without entering search terms. It will then follow the criteria you have selected (e.g. country or subject area).

    If you have not selected any criteria in a given category, the entire category will be searched (e.g. all subject areas or all countries).