Plumbers have been found to be least likely to suffer from mental health issues in a new report from IronmongeryDirect. The survey of UK tradespeople revealed that over four in five (82%) experience mental health problems due to work-related issues, with joiners and bricklayers being the most affected.
However, 70% of plumbers say they struggle with mental health issues, indicating that while they may be the least affected compared to other trades, mental health challenges are still prevalent within the industry.
The research, commissioned for Mental Health Awareness Week, found that more than half (56%) of tradespeople experience some form of mental health problem, such as stress, anxiety or depression, every month, and more than a quarter (27%) feel symptoms every single week. However, in more positive findings, both statistics are lower than this time last year.
The main cause of stress for tradespeople continues to be the ongoing Cost of Living crisis, with over a third (34%) reporting it as a factor affecting their mental health, but this has also dropped slightly compared to the 2023 report (39%).
The rising cost of materials remains the second main stressor (32%), but new entries on the list include the poor work-life balance (24%), the physical demand of jobs (12%) and a lack of recognition (10%).
The top 10 most common causes of stress for tradespeople are:
1 Cost of Living crisis- 34%
2 Rising cost of materials- 32%
3 Finances- 25%
4 Poor work-life balance- 24%
5 Too much work- 17%
6 Tensions with customers- 15%
7 Tensions with suppliers- 14%
8 Physical demand- 12%
9 Lack of recognition- 10%
10 Long workdays- 10%
Unfortunately, despite the benefits of doing so, almost nine in ten (88%) tradespeople don’t feel comfortable talking to others about their feelings. Just one in ten (10%) have spoken to friends or family about their mental health over the last year, which is down from previous studies (17%).
Furthermore, 7% of workers worry what their colleagues would think if they told them what they were going through, and more than a quarter (26%) feel they can’t take time off work for mental health reasons.
Bricklayers are the most likely tradespeople to feel stressed or anxious on a daily basis (35%), but overall, mental health problems are most common amongst Joiners. Almost all of those surveyed (92%) say they have experienced issues.
The trades that are most and least likely to experience mental health issues due to work are:
- Joiner – 92%
- Bricklayer – 90%
- Builder – 87%
- Caretaker – 87%
- Carpenter – 87%
- Building Surveyor – 85%
- Plasterer – 82%
- Electrician – 79%
- Landscaper – 77%
- Painter Decorator – 72%
- Plumber – 70%
As part of its efforts to raise awareness and support, IronmongeryDirect has donated over £13,000 in recent years to Basildon Mind, a local mental health charity, to help provide vital services to the industry.
Ellis Osborn, ecommerce manager at IronmongeryDirect, says: “This is now the fourth year we’ve conducted this research, and it’s clear that mental health problems continue to be a real issue across the industry.
“However, it’s encouraging to see some of the statistics dropping compared to previous studies. Hopefully the stigma around mental health is starting to reduce, and tradespeople feel slightly more willing to speak up when they have difficulties. There is certainly a long way to go though, and we urge everyone to reach out and talk to someone if they are feeling stressed or anxious. Opening up can feel daunting at first, but it can be the first step towards improving your mental health situation.”
To read IronmongeryDirect’s Mental Health in the Trades: 2024 Report, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/research/mental-health-in-the-trades/
