Repairing the Cracks in Our Foundations: A Discussion on Mental Health in the Construction Industry

A survey conducted in 2020 revealed that 83% of construction professionals are faced with mental health conditions1 and over 200,000 people in construction are registered as disabled in the United Kingdom alone2. This panel of subject matter experts explores ways to address the significant mental health challenges in the Construction Industry and expanding employment opportunities to meet changing industry demands. Hosted by Prateek Chitnis, this panel includes Autodesk Veterans Network Global Lead and US Army Veteran Sarah Velez and Autodesk MIND Network Global Lead and Construction Learning professional Ashley Alward who will be joined by mental health and construction industry experts to navigate industry stressors, supportive workplace strategies, and actionable steps to promote mental health and disabled employee retention both in the office and the field. Attendees will learn to recognize mental health needs in their workforce, develop communication, and access vital resources for a more human-centered professional community beyond basic tools and materials that improve employee wellbeing and sustainable performance. Disclaimer: This session is NOT intended to be utilized as individual mental health or medical advice. 1National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine (2020) 2 Go Construction Survey (2017)