At the Bills stadium project, mental health support is prioritized alongside safety, with an on-site counselor aiding workers facing stress and anxiety.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — A new approach to worker wellbeing is gaining attention at the construction site of the new stadium for the Buffalo Bills, where organizers say mental health support is becoming just as important as physical safety.
On Thursday, the Anti‑Stigma Coalition held a discussion about the mental health challenges facing construction workers and praised the presence of a dedicated mental health counselor at the stadium construction site. Advocates say the initiative could serve as a model for other large construction projects across the country.
At the stadium construction site, workers have direct access to a licensed mental health counselor stationed in a trailer on the property. The counselor is available regularly to speak with workers who may be dealing with stress, anxiety, or personal issues.
Matt Smith, chair of the Anti-Stigma Coalition, said the program is already showing positive results.
“They actually took a mental health counselor and put them on site and a trailer to have them there on the regular for the workers for people who might come with any kind of issues they might have and she takes care of them or she pushes them along to other professionals and it seems to be doing very very well in terms of morale.”
Smith says simply having a professional available where workers already spend their day can make it easier for them to seek help.
Construction workers face a unique set of pressures. Long hours, physically demanding labor, job uncertainty, and financial stress can all contribute to mental health struggles.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the construction industry has the second-highest suicide rate among workers in the United States — roughly four times the national average.
Those statistics are one reason advocates say workplace mental health resources are critical.
Union leaders say they hope the effort at the Bills stadium site encourages other construction projects to adopt similar programs.
Tim Benes, business manager for SMART Local 71, joined the discussion and emphasized that the benefits of mental health support go beyond worker wellbeing.
“There’s definitely dollar and cents involved and I think that we need to get general contractors and users seeing the value of it and honestly in getting them to make it happen.”
Supporters say improved morale, fewer workplace conflicts, and better overall productivity can all come from addressing mental health in the workplace.
The counselor on the stadium project works with workers individually and, when necessary, connects them with additional professional resources. In some cases, advocates say quick action can make a significant difference for someone in crisis.
Smith hopes the program receives broader recognition across the construction industry and beyond.
“I hope the NFL notices how the Bills have handled this project. I hope other unions aside from Tim and the sheet metal workers that he represents take note of how this has gone and realize that this is something that they could do with themselves as well so that it becomes more widespread.”