The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has launched a public consultation to gather views on the underlying causes of poor mental health in the construction industry and identify effective ways to reduce them, according to the British Safety Council.
The initiative follows a series of focus groups held across England in collaboration with Mates in Mind and the University of Warwick. It seeks to explore both the root causes and practical measures that could help improve wellbeing in one of the UK’s most high-risk sectors for mental health issues.
Part of the CLC’s wider Mental Health Project, the consultation is being led by senior civil servant Stuart Young, head of stakeholder engagement at the Department for Business & Trade, alongside Sam Downie, managing director of Mates in Mind; Henrietta Frater, head of HSE and Wellbeing at the Crown Estate; and representatives from Mace, BAM, and the University of Warwick.
During earlier discussions, Warwick researcher Dr. Sophie Clohessy outlined key challenges such as low job control, rigid hierarchies, frequent conflict, and lack of role clarity. “The work is often physically demanding, long, and far from home – all of which add strain,” she said. Dr. Clohessy also noted that the sector has a higher prevalence of neurodiversity, which is often overlooked in workplace policies.
The consultation will inform a 'Joint Code of Practice for Managing Mental Health in Construction', scheduled for publication in February 2026.
The initiative follows a series of focus groups held across England in collaboration with Mates in Mind and the University of Warwick.
