"You Have to Make It Normal, That's What We Do": Construction Managers' Experiences of Help-Offering.

Abstract

Men have a higher risk of suicide compared to women, with those in male-dominated industries such as construction being particularly vulnerable. These industries are typically characterised as 'macho' environments, endorsing traditional masculine norms that reinforce mental health stigma and delay help-seeking. The workplace is a promising setting for engaging men with issues around their mental health. Although managers can play a key role by connecting workers in distress with mental health supports, research exploring their experiences of this is limited. This study sought to address this gap by exploring the barriers to and the facilitators of help-offering behaviour among managers in the construction industry in Ireland. Five focus groups were conducted with construction industry managers (n = 33) to explore their perspectives on supporting and offering help to workers in distress. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings indicated three key themes: (1) creating the right environment with sub-themes focused on fostering an open culture around mental health on-site and overcoming systemic challenges; (2) navigating the practice of help-offering; and (3) using the right tools for the job. The findings highlight the need for manager training tailored to the construction industry as part of a multi-faceted approach to help-offering within the industry.