Mental Health in the Trades: 2024 Report

In line with Mental Health Awareness Week 2024, we once again surveyed UK tradespeople to highlight the issue of work-related stress within the industry. This report reveals the scale of the problem, how things have changed since last year, the most common causes of stress, the impact it has on tradespeople's lives and, crucially, what you can do if this affects you.

Who’s affected?

Worryingly, more than four in five UK tradespeople (82%) say they’ve experienced some form of mental health problem due to work, such as stress, anxiety or depression. Many of these individuals experience such issues on a regular basis, with more than a quarter (27%) reporting symptoms every week and two in five (40%) every fortnight. Shockingly, more than half (56%) experience work- related stress at least once a month.

Some tradespeople are more likely to experience mental health issues than others.

Regarding age, the younger generations are more likely to face these challenges, with 93% of millennials (25-34 years old) reporting some form of mental health issue, and 91% of Gen Z (18-24). However, it is those aged 35 to 44 who face such conditions most often, with one in eight (13%) struggling daily.

Causes

The causes of these mental health issues are incredibly varied and will differ for every individual. However, the ongoing Cost of Living crisis is once more the number one concern, as it was last year, with more than a third (34%) saying it's a major cause of stress. One in six (16%) say the situation has made their mental health worse.

The rising cost of materials also continues to be second main stressor (32%), followed by other financial factors (25%).

Poor work-life balance (24%), the physical demand of jobs (12%) and long workdays (10%) all featured higher up the list this year than in previous reports, as did the lack of sleep (8%). Earlier this year, our study explored the physical toll of a life in the trades, with more than one in five (21%) workers experiencing hearing problems.

Workload is on the mind of young tradespeople, with a third of Gen Z workers (33%) feeling unsettled by the scale of their workload. Our recent research found that the average trade waiting list in 2024 is five weeks, largely due to staff and skill shortages.

What’s the impact?

These stressors have a significant impact, and 8% of UK tradespeople have taken or are taking anti-depressants or some form of similar medication, up from 6% last year. Moreover, 5% have needed professional help from a counsellor or therapist. This number should probably be higher too, as nine in ten (90%) workers say they don’t know how to access mental health support services.

Mental health issues have also caused one in six (16%) to take time off work, and this is another statistic that has risen over the last 12 months (from 14%). This is most common amongst Millennial tradespeople, with more than a quarter (28%) having taken a leave of absence due to stress.

These figures are also lower than they should be, as more than a quarter (26%) of tradespeople say they feel like they can't take time off work for mental health reasons.

By trade

Mental health issues are far more common in some trades than others. Joiners are the most likely tradespeople to experience problems, with almost all of those surveyed (92%) admitting symptoms. The rising cost of materials is their main cause of anxiety (41%).

They are followed by bricklayers (90%), who primarily worry about the Cost of Living crisis (27%).

Tales from the trade

It is important to recognise that behind the numbers in each of these appalling statistics are real people going through incredibly tough times. We spoke to a variety of tradespeople who shared their mental health stories, as well as their thoughts on what needs to be done to improve the situation.

I've experienced work-related stress due to long working hours, unrealistic deadlines and working away from family and friends for long periods of time. Working as an electrician is physically and mentally demanding as you have little downtime to relax, which can cause stress and make you feel isolated.

I never really spoke to anybody about my feelings as there is very much a culture of 'get on with it' or 'man up'. I worried that if I did speak up people might think I was incapable of doing the job that I get paid to do.

However, it's certainly important that people feel comfortable being open and talking about their struggles and issues so that they can be resolved. Luckily, mental health is no longer the taboo subject it once was but it is still a subject that people find hard to admit. More needs to be done to reassure people that opening up in a safe environment with trustworthy people is healthy, and that you are certainly not on your own, whatever you are experiencing.

Anonymous, electrician from Sheffield

I experience burnout far too regularly. I have often felt stressed at work but the seriousness of it started in 2020 at the onset of the pandemic. I remember asking my husband if it were possible to die from stress as I was genuinely concerned.

I have often just tried to survive it and make it to the other side. Sometimes I share vulnerably on social media platforms about stress, burnout and mental health, but I also feel this pressure (that I put on myself) to keep it together all the time - which is ridiculous, because I am human and this is not possible.

Tradespeople need to understand that they are not alone. Never. Things don't have to stay the way they are. We just need some brave people to step up and be vulnerable and share, which then might encourage others to share as well.

Rebecca Bishop, co-founder of Elite Building

What can you do?

One of the most positive ways to begin addressing mental health issues is to open up and talk to someone about what you are going through, no matter how difficult that may be. Unfortunately, just one in ten (10%) tradespeople have spoken to friends or family about their problems, down from 17% last year, with Gen Z (6%) and Millennials (8%) the least likely to do so.

Almost nine in ten (88%) say they don't feel comfortable talking about their mental health with others.

Furthermore, 7% of UK tradespeople say they worry what others would think if they told them about their mental health situation.

To help break this stigma, be sure to check in on your colleagues, employees, friends and family and ask how they are. Do this regularly to show your support and open up the conversation for you to both discuss worries if necessary.

Employers should make an effort to invest in mental health training, so you know what signs to look for and how to help anyone who needs support.

If you're feeling stressed about work, follow these helpful tips from the mental health charity, Mind:

Denise Kent, CEO at Basildon Mind, comments:

“Thank you to IronmongeryDirect for the wonderful research piece again. One of the survey results that stood out to us was that so many workers, 9 out of 10, didn't know that our local Mind, and the other 103 local Minds all over the country, are here to provide the support, respect and help for everyone experiencing a mental health issue. It shows that the battle continues for Mental Health Awareness, and we urge everyone to join the fight so that there is a future where everyone can get quality mental health care when they need it.”

What we’ve done to help

Here at IronmongeryDirect, we’re passionate about raising awareness on this topic and helping tradespeople feel comfortable to discuss their stressors with others.

To help on this mission, we’ve donated over £13,000 to the charity Basildon Mind in recent years to support its incredible efforts to improve the mental health of local communities. The money will help fund its vital work, which includes providing emotional, physical and financial wellbeing support to people and their families.

For Mental Health Awareness Week, we also organised the UK’s first ever inter-trade football tournament, held at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium, highlighting the benefits of exercise on people’s wellbeing.

You can see more information about the event here.

Mental Health in the Trades: 2024 Report