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The basics:
Mental health concerns remain prevalent among sectors such as construction, first response
Industry groups are expanding access to counseling, support resources
New initiatives aim to reduce stigma around seeking help
When a state trooper was arrested for driving under the influence, he knew it was time to seek professional help, recalled Christian Anjos, director of operations at Élevé Wellness, a behavioral health treatment center in Hillsborough. “His EAP (Employee Assistance Program) referred the trooper to our program, but there was a Catch-22 situation,” said Anjos. “The arrest trigged a mandatory suspension, and his benefits, which would normally pay for behavioral treatment, were also halted. But we wanted to be sure he received the proper therapy, so we waived our fee in the case.”
New Jersey continues to enjoy employment and economic growth, but the expansion has also intensified a “silent crisis” among its workforce. Male workers in many sectors are statistically more vulnerable to fatal accidents, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; substance use disorders, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics; and, according to some studies, mental health challenges.
Even as fatal workplace injuries fall nationwide – dropping 4% from 2023 to 2024, according to the most recent data from BLS – they’re on the rise (up 3.7%) in New Jersey. The construction sector, along with transportation and warehousing sectors accounted for the most fatalities, according to the agency, but tragedy can strike anywhere.
The incident with the state trooper highlights a broader issue, Anjos observed.
Anjos
“A lot of people, especially first responders, are under a great deal of stress: they wake up early, put in a long day and deal with repeated trauma situations, and this can affect their own mental well-being,” he detailed. “On top of that, you’ve got a male-oriented culture which, for a long time, discouraged them from seeking help. That’s beginning to change, and there’s less stigma in approaching an EAP and asking for outside help, which is a positive.”
But there’s still a way to go, he added.
“In certain professions, like construction and first-responders, like police and fire, many people – especially those over 35 – traditionally capped off their day by going to a bar. So, you had peer pressure to contain your emotions, and to drink. That can lead to alcoholism. For the younger generations, it often plays out as drugs. In both cases, seeing a qualified therapist and, when needed, pairing that with appropriate medicine, can help a lot.”
The state trooper, for example, is slowly working through his own fears, some of which stem from childhood issues, and has remained sober for a month.
Don’t be afraid
“People have to be comfortable with seeking counseling and other assistance early on, before they see flashing lights in their rearview mirror,” Anjos said. “But getting there also means focusing on external, cultural change, in addition to internal issues. More people need to realize there is no stigma associated with seeking outside help. We’re working toward that, but it does take time. The good news is that an increasing number of unions and other organizations are working with us to get help for their members and employees. And as a society, too, we are making progress.”
Schiff
One of the challenges in addressing mental health in the construction industry, in particular, is that “many of these struggles are deeply personal and often remain private,” said Jill Schiff, chief operating officer at the Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey. “Because of that, identifying broad trends can be difficult. What we are seeing, however, is a significant increase in awareness and a growing commitment from employers, unions, and industry partners to make mental health resources more accessible and conversations more open.”
She noted that at ACCNJ, “mental health has become a regular part of our safety discussions because we recognize that worker safety extends far beyond physical hazards.”
In construction, for example, “people are accustomed to talking about hard hats, fall protection, and equipment safety, but emotional well-being is just as important,” she added. “We continually remind our members that no one should feel isolated, and that sometimes the most important thing we can do is simply listen.”
Help is – readily – available
Schiff pointed to one development, which “came through a presentation at our April Safety Council meeting. Chris Lalevee of IUOE Local 825 and Roni Barak Ventura of New Jersey Insitute of Technology introduced ‘Protecting Under the Hard Hat,’ a new web-based platform focused on mental health and wellness resources specifically for construction workers.”
The initiative was developed collaboratively between Local 825 and students from NJIT’s Albert Dorman Honors College. “Although it is still in its early stages, the platform already provides confidential, easy-to-access connections to critical resources including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, NAMI, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention, and the Alliance for Naloxone Safety in the Workplace,” she detailed. “That type of collaboration is exactly what this industry needs. ACCNJ has also been helping distribute information on Employee Assistance Programs available across the general construction trades, and we will be expanding those resources into specialty trades as well. Every person on a job site, regardless of craft or title, should know where to turn when they or a coworker need support.”
No single person or organization has all the answers, but everyone can be part of the support system.
– Jill Schiff, COO, Associated Construction Contractors of NJ
The ACCNJ also supports awareness efforts outside the workplace. “We participated in the recent inaugural New Jersey Construction Hike for Hope in support of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention,” related Schiff. “According to CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] data, construction and extraction industries have the highest suicide rates among occupational groups in the United States. Those statistics are impossible to ignore, and they reinforce why continued outreach and visibility matter so much.”
A recent example underscores the importance of industry relationships and responsiveness. “Earlier this spring, while attending an event, we received a call from Chris Lalevee,” recalled Schiff. “A craftworker on a job site had reached out to him looking for mental health assistance. Chris did not immediately have the exact resource the individual needed, but he contacted us because our association maintains connections to a wide network of support services. Together, we were able to quickly provide information and guidance that could help that worker take the next step.”
That moment illustrates something crucial to tackling mental health, Schiff said. “No single person or organization has all the answers, but everyone can be part of the support system. In the construction industry, we look out for one another physically every day. We need to continue building a culture where we do the same for mental health.”
Safety net
Oberholtzer
“In the Men’s Trauma Program at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health, we frequently work with blue-collar workers and first responders who are struggling with physical injuries and mental health challenges,” said Hugh Oberholtzer, senior primary therapist in Princeton House’s Outpatient Men’s Program. “Men in these professions are, in many ways, the backbone of our communities. They keep us safe and maintain the infrastructure we rely on — often while putting their own safety at risk. That said, these challenges are not limited to men. Across our outpatient programs, we are seeing increasing numbers of individuals of all genders in these fields who are struggling following work-related injuries or mental health concerns.”
Oberholtzer said the goal is to “help individuals stabilize their symptoms through more effective coping strategies and to reinforce that they are not alone during uncertain times. For example, we may work with a firefighter who was forced into early medical retirement due to a work-related injury, subsequently developing panic attacks and severe depression related to a loss of identity. In another case, an industrial electrician may struggle with mood instability after misusing substances to cope with chronic sleep deprivation from shift work and the physical strain and injuries on the job.”
Taking care of employees
New Jersey healthcare leaders say AI anxiety, loneliness and economic pressure are having an impact on workplace mental health. Find out more here.
Physical injuries and potential disabilities are more likely to affect employees in blue-collar professions, he added. “These are people who must be hands-on and be able to tolerate a certain level of physical demand to do their work. They are also at increased risk of physical injury due to the nature of what their workday demands of them. Without the ability to perform physical duties, they are put at significantly increased risk for economic and psychosocial crises.”
Change on the horizon?
At the same time, though, the “silent crisis” of men’s mental health affects both blue-collar and white-collar men. “From an early age, many men are taught to ‘play hurt’ and push through pain — whether physical or emotional,” observed Oberholtzer. “National mental health data underscores the impact of these norms: approximately 79% of suicide deaths in the United States are men; men are two-to-three times more likely to engage in maladaptive coping strategies such as substance use; and roughly 20% of men experience mental health challenges each year, though this is likely underreported.”
But anecdotal evidence, at least, suggests some improvements.
“In white-collar professions, there appears to be less overall stigma for men, possibly reflecting broader cultural shifts toward greater understanding and acceptance of mental health challenges,” he said. “Encouragingly, we are also hearing from clients in first responder and blue collar professions that some departments, unions, and agencies are beginning to take mental health more seriously. As demands on New Jersey’s workforce continue to increase, particularly in infrastructure and essential services, the need for accessible mental health support will likely grow.”