IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v22y2025i4p581-d1629922.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

“You Have to Make It Normal, That’s What We Do”: Construction Managers’ Experiences of Help-Offering

Author

Listed:
  • Emilie Roche

    (The National Centre for Men’s Health, Department of Health and Sports Sciences, South East Technological University, Kilkenny Road Campus, Kilkenny Road, R93 V960 Carlow, Ireland)

  • Shane O’Donnell

    (The National Centre for Men’s Health, Department of Health and Sports Sciences, South East Technological University, Kilkenny Road Campus, Kilkenny Road, R93 V960 Carlow, Ireland)

  • Noel Richardson

    (The National Centre for Men’s Health, Department of Health and Sports Sciences, South East Technological University, Kilkenny Road Campus, Kilkenny Road, R93 V960 Carlow, Ireland)

Abstract

Men have a higher risk of suicide compared to women, with those in male-dominated industries such as construction being particularly vulnerable. These industries are typically characterised as ‘macho’ environments, endorsing traditional masculine norms that reinforce mental health stigma and delay help-seeking. The workplace is a promising setting for engaging men with issues around their mental health. Although managers can play a key role by connecting workers in distress with mental health supports, research exploring their experiences of this is limited. This study sought to address this gap by exploring the barriers to and the facilitators of help-offering behaviour among managers in the construction industry in Ireland. Five focus groups were conducted with construction industry managers ( n = 33) to explore their perspectives on supporting and offering help to workers in distress. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings indicated three key themes: (1) creating the right environment with sub-themes focused on fostering an open culture around mental health on-site and overcoming systemic challenges; (2) navigating the practice of help-offering; and (3) using the right tools for the job. The findings highlight the need for manager training tailored to the construction industry as part of a multi-faceted approach to help-offering within the industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Emilie Roche & Shane O’Donnell & Noel Richardson, 2025. "“You Have to Make It Normal, That’s What We Do”: Construction Managers’ Experiences of Help-Offering," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(4), pages 1-18, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:4:p:581-:d:1629922
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/4/581/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/4/581/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Isabella Berardelli & Elena Rogante & Salvatore Sarubbi & Denise Erbuto & Mariarosaria Cifrodelli & Cristina Concolato & Massimo Pasquini & David Lester & Marco Innamorati & Maurizio Pompili, 2022. "Is Lethality Different between Males and Females? Clinical and Gender Differences in Inpatient Suicide Attempters," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-8, October.
    2. Damon Jones & David Molitor & Julian Reif, 2019. "What do Workplace Wellness Programs do? Evidence from the Illinois Workplace Wellness Study," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 134(4), pages 1747-1791.
    3. Martina O. McGrath & Karolina Krysinska & Nicola J. Reavley & Karl Andriessen & Jane Pirkis, 2023. "Disclosure of Mental Health Problems or Suicidality at Work: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-19, April.
    4. Esmée Hanna & Brendan Gough & Steven Markham, 2020. "Masculinities in the construction industry: A double‐edged sword for health and wellbeing?," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(4), pages 632-646, July.
    5. Andrea Miranda-Mendizabal & Pere Castellví & Oleguer Parés-Badell & Itxaso Alayo & José Almenara & Iciar Alonso & Maria Jesús Blasco & Annabel Cebrià & Andrea Gabilondo & Margalida Gili & Carolina Lag, 2019. "Gender differences in suicidal behavior in adolescents and young adults: systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 64(2), pages 265-283, March.
    6. Birgit A Greiner & Caleb Leduc & Cliodhna O’Brien & Johanna Cresswell-Smith & Reiner Rugulies & Kristian Wahlbeck & Kahar Abdulla & Benedikt L Amann & Arlinda Cerga Pashoja & Evelien Coppens & Paul Co, 2022. "The effectiveness of organisational-level workplace mental health interventions on mental health and wellbeing in construction workers: A systematic review and recommended research agenda," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(11), pages 1-23, November.
    7. Simon Tyler & Kate Gunn & Adrian Esterman & Bob Clifford & Nicholas Procter, 2022. "Suicidal Ideation in the Australian Construction Industry: Prevalence and the Associations of Psychosocial Job Adversity and Adherence to Traditional Masculine Norms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-16, November.
    8. Victoria Ross & Neil Caton & Jorgen Gullestrup & Kairi Kõlves, 2020. "A Longitudinal Assessment of Two Suicide Prevention Training Programs for the Construction Industry," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-8, January.
    9. Josephine Y. Chau & Lina Engelen & Tracy Kolbe-Alexander & Sarah Young & Heidi Olsen & Nicholas Gilson & Nicola W. Burton & Adrian E. Bauman & Wendy J. Brown, 2019. "“In Initiative Overload”: Australian Perspectives on Promoting Physical Activity in the Workplace from Diverse Industries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-11, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Syon P. Bhanot & Christina A. Roberto & Anjali Chainani & Charles Williamson & Mehra den Braven, 2019. "Testing effects of loss framing and checklists: evidence from a field experiment on wellness program participation in Philadelphia," Journal of the Economic Science Association, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 5(2), pages 210-222, December.
    2. Mounu Prem & Juan F. Vargas & Olga Namen, 2023. "The Human Capital Peace Dividend," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 58(3), pages 962-1002.
    3. Homonoff, Tatiana & Willage, Barton & Willén, Alexander, 2020. "Rebates as incentives: The effects of a gym membership reimbursement program," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    4. Christopher M. Doran & Lisa Wittenhagen & Edward Heffernan & Carla Meurk, 2021. "The MATES Case Management Model: Presenting Problems and Referral Pathways for a Novel Peer-Led Approach to Addressing Suicide in the Construction Industry," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-11, June.
    5. Julio Torales & Iván Barrios & Juan Edgar Tullo-Gómez & Osvaldo Melgarejo & Nora Gómez & Viviana Riego & Rodrigo Navarro & Oscar García & Pamela Figueredo & José Almirón-Santacruz & Tomás Caych, 2023. "Suicides among Children and Adolescents in Paraguay: An 18-year National Exploratory Study (2004–2022)," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(7), pages 1649-1657, November.
    6. Mahnaz Islam & Sabrin Beg, 2021. "Rule-of-Thumb Instructions to Improve Fertilizer Management: Experimental Evidence from Bangladesh," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 70(1), pages 237-281.
    7. Martins, Pedro S., 2021. "Employee training and firm performance: Evidence from ESF grant applications," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    8. Krista Ruffini & Aaron Sojourner & Abigail Wozniak, 2021. "Who'S In And Who'S Out Under Workplace Covid Symptom Screening?," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(2), pages 614-641, March.
    9. Lizhong Peng & Jie Chen & Xiaohui Guo, 2022. "Macroeconomic conditions and health‐related outcomes in the United States: A metropolitan and micropolitan statistical area‐level analysis between 2004 and 2017," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(1), pages 3-20, January.
    10. Browne, Oliver R. & Gazze, Ludovica & Greenstone, Michael & Olga Rostapshova, 2022. "Man vs. Machine : Technological Promise and Political Limits of Automated Regulation Enforcement," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 1440, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
    11. Nancy H. Brinson & Danielle N. Rutherford, 2020. "Privacy and the quantified self: A review of U.S. health information policy limitations related to wearable technologies," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(4), pages 1355-1374, December.
    12. Faraz Usmani & Marc Jeuland & Subhrendu K. Pattanayak, 2024. "NGOs and the Effectiveness of Interventions," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 106(6), pages 1690-1708, November.
    13. Liran Einav & Stephanie Lee & Jonathan Levin, 2019. "The impact of financial incentives on health and health care: Evidence from a large wellness program," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(2), pages 261-279, February.
    14. Michael Thaler, 2020. "Good News Is Not a Sufficient Condition for Motivated Reasoning," Papers 2012.01548, arXiv.org, revised Jan 2024.
    15. Masato Oikawa, 2024. "The role of education in health policy reform outcomes: evidence from Japan," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 25(1), pages 49-76, February.
    16. Marisa Bucheli & Andrea Vigorito, 2023. "Short‐ and Medium‐Term Effects of Parental Separation on Children's Well‐Being: Evidence from Uruguay," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 49(2), pages 351-377, June.
    17. Guido Friebel & Matthias Heinz & Mitchell Hoffman & Nick Zubanov, 2023. "What Do Employee Referral Programs Do? Measuring the Direct and Overall Effects of a Management Practice," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 131(3), pages 633-686.
    18. McCarthy, Aine Seitz & Krause, Brooke, 2024. "Age and Agency: Evidence from a Women’s Empowerment Program in Tanzania," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    19. Ascensión Fumero & Rosario J. Marrero & Alicia Pérez-Albéniz & Eduardo Fonseca-Pedrero, 2021. "Adolescents’ Bipolar Experiences and Suicide Risk: Well-being and Mental Health Difficulties as Mediators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-16, March.
    20. Alessandro Maffioli & David McKenzie & Diego Ubfal, 2023. "Estimating the Demand for Business Training: Evidence from Jamaica," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 72(1), pages 123-158.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:4:p:581-:d:1629922. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.