Mental health is a growing concern in the construction industry, especially for contractors in South Texas facing unique workforce challenges. This article explains why addressing mental health is vital for ABC South Texas contractors, outlines the region-specific risks, and details how the TELUS Health Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can provide essential support for your teams.

Key Takeaways

South Texas contractors are not dealing with an abstract mental health awareness issue. They are managing real workforce risk across San Antonio commercial work, JBSA projects, Eagle Ford energy jobs, healthcare expansions, and the I-35/I-10 corridors.

• TELUS Mental Health Index industry data shows roughly 30% of construction workers are in the high-risk mental health category versus 23% of the broader U.S. workforce; 13% carry an anxiety or depression diagnosis versus 11% nationally; and male construction workers die by suicide at more than four times the national average.
• ABC Insurance Trust has partnered with TELUS Health to offer a stand-alone Employee Assistance Program that covers all employees, whether or not they are enrolled in the company health plan.
• TELUS Health covers more than 157 million healthcare lives and has a U.S. clinical network of 74,000+ counselors with an average of 17 years of experience.
• The ABC member discount is $3.05 per employee per month, compared with the $3.50 standard rate, and is tied to enrollment forms submitted before the May 2026 deadline.

The Mental Health Reality on South Texas Construction Sites

Mental health in construction looks different on a South Texas job site than it does in an office. It shows up after night pours, highway lane closures, plant outages, shutdowns, remote Eagle Ford work, and multi-day travel that keeps workers away from family support.

The construction industry has the second-highest suicide rate among all major industries in the U.S.; male construction workers face a suicide rate of 56 per 100,000, nearly double the national average of 32.0. Other industry benchmarks put construction suicide rates at more than four times the general population. This is a health-and-safety issue in construction, not a soft HR topic.

A 2020 survey found that 14.3% of construction workers reported struggling with anxiety and nearly 6% with depression, with many indicating worse mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Factors contributing to mental health challenges in construction include long working hours, physical exhaustion, job insecurity, and stigma around emotional health.

Chronic pain compounds the risk. ABC Insurance Trust materials cite 34% of construction workers reporting chronic pain versus 24% nationally, and 45% using prescription medication for pain versus 36%. Physical pain and fatigue are prevalent among construction workers, often leading to anxiety and depression, with self-medication through substances at double the national average. High rates of substance misuse in the construction industry are often coping mechanisms for physical pain and emotional distress.

From Total Human Health to 24/7 Clinical Support

ABC South Texas’s Total Human Health Initiative covers Body, Heart, Mind, and Soul. It already shows up through safety, apprenticeship, wellness-focused toolbox talks, VitalCog suicide prevention mental health training, and suicide prevention resources.

The TELUS Health EAP is the operational complement. It moves contractors from awareness and gatekeeper training to confidential, on-demand mental health care for workers and families. Link it with Construction Wellness Programs: A Strategic Advantage for Commercial Contractors as the hub.

Many construction companies already use peer support, mentorship, mental health training, and even a suicide prevention task force. But field leaders still need an escalation path to appropriate professional help when they see warning signs, self-harm risk, substance abuse, or poor mental health.

The Business Impact: Productivity, Bids, and SIF Exposure

Mental health challenges affect mental health, safety, job performance, financial performance, and bid competitiveness. TELUS data shows construction workers feeling more stressed than before the pandemic report 47 lost productivity days per year, versus 31 for those who do not. Workers actively thinking about leaving report 65 lost productivity days annually.

As of January 2024, construction’s work productivity score sat 8.9 points below the national average. For a 200-person contractor, if only 20 workers lose 47 days each, that is 940 workdays. At a $250 loaded daily labor cost, that is $235,000 before rework, overtime, liquidated damages, or high turnover.

Stress, fatigue, substance misuse, distraction, and burnout increase safety risks and SIF exposure. The demanding nature of construction work often leads to chronic burnout and fatigue, increasing on-site safety risks. Treating workplace mental health like PPE, supervisor training, and pre-task planning is basic risk control. See our related SIF discussion in Construction Safety Week 2026.

Why Traditional EAPs Fail Construction Crews

Many construction workers lack access to employee assistance programs, do not understand them, or do not trust them. Industry data show 38% report no EAP access, versus 31% nationally; only 28% know what an EAP is and what it covers, versus 33% nationally; and 30% cite cost as the main barrier.

Employee Assistance Programs are recognized by 71% of organizations as beneficial services to offer workers, although only 63% of respondents reported offering an EAP. Traditional plans often sit inside medical coverage, exclude project hires, and rely on phone intake during hours that do not fit construction sites.

A culture of toughness within the construction industry often equates emotional vulnerability with weakness, leading many workers to hide their mental health struggles. Many workers fear being benched, losing hours, or being viewed as lacking physical strength.

What Makes the TELUS Health EAP Different for Construction Workers

ABC Insurance Trust has partnered with TELUS Health, a global workplace well-being leader, to deliver a construction-ready EAP. Stand-alone means it is not embedded in a medical plan, not tied to a carrier renewal, and covers foremen, apprentices, operators, office staff, project admins, and Contractors Apprenticeship Trust participants from day one.

A master’s-level mental health clinician answers the first call. TELUS reports an average of 24 minutes of clinical support per interaction, compared with the industry average of 10 minutes. Workers can use 24/7 instant chat, phone, video, or in-person counseling from a truck, job trailer, or home after shift.

TELUS also reports that 63% of new users using 24/7 instant chat would not have contacted a traditional phone-based hotline. That matters for construction laborers who may never “call a counselor” but will quietly use chat.

Scope of Support: Beyond Counseling to Total Worker Stability

This program supports mental well-being and worker mental health beyond counseling:

• Crisis intervention, critical incident response, and crew debriefs after fatality, physical injury, confined-space rescue, highway incident, or near miss.
• Counseling for anxiety, depression, trauma, sleep issues, anger, conflict, relationship strain, and mental health disorders.
• Conflict resolution for construction managers handling harassment complaints, crew tension, or issues that reduce workplace safety.
• Financial counseling and legal consultations for debt, child support, custody, financial stress, seasonal slowdowns, and job insecurity.
• Substance use counseling for opioid misuse, alcohol dependence, substance abuse, and substance misuse tied to chronic pain.
• Work-life help for child care, elder care, career planning, and helpful resources that reduce off-the-job distraction.

The cyclical nature of construction contributes to financial and job insecurity, resulting in long-term stress for workers. Isolation in the construction workforce is exacerbated by fragmented crews and travel to remote job sites, cutting workers off from family support.

Cost, ABC Member Discount, and Why the Timing Matters

The standard TELUS Health EAP rate is $3.50 per employee per month. ABC member contractors can access $3.05 per employee per month if enrollment forms are submitted by the May 2026 deadline.

That is less than one specialty coffee per craftworker per month. A 150-employee contractor pays about $457.50 per month at the discount. Compare that with one experienced foreman who produced 65 lost-productivity days while thinking about quitting.

Chapters hosting an educational webinar with ABC Insurance Trust can help extend or lock in the discount opportunity. Missing the May window for a $3.05 clinical safety net is a preventable mistake.

How This EAP Supports Safety, Retention, and Recruitment

Construction industry leaders already understand the issue. 77% of Presidents, CEOs, and Owners in the construction industry recognize addressing mental health at work as a priority, with the aim of promoting awareness and reducing stigma. 93% of construction industry leaders agree that addressing mental health at work is a sound business practice.

Leaders in the construction industry are essential for fostering a caring culture that addresses worker well-being and mental health awareness, as they set priorities. Creating a caring organizational culture is essential for improving mental health in construction, increasing retention rates, improving performance, and increasing productivity.

Younger craftworkers and apprentices increasingly expect mental health resources. Connect this EAP to Construction Workforce Recruitment Internal Engine and Construction Mentorship Programs: mentors need somewhere to send a struggling apprentice beyond “talk to HR.”

Implementing the TELUS Health EAP in Your Construction Business

Keep rollout simple:

• Assign HR, safety, or operations as the point person.
• Complete enrollment with ABC Insurance Trust before the May deadline.
• Confirm all employees are covered, including apprentices and project hires.
• Use bilingual flyers, QR codes, wallet cards, job site posters, restrooms, break areas, and toolbox talks.
• Add EAP information to onboarding, Contractors Apprenticeship Trust orientation, and pre-task planning.

78% of construction managers report feeling comfortable discussing mental health issues with employees, yet over half, 51%, have not received formal training to address these issues effectively. 69% of construction managers believe offering mental health training would help them support employees dealing with mental health issues. Training on mental health conversations is a key resource for improving construction managers’ confidence.

Training supervisors to recognize early warning signs of mental health issues is crucial because supervisors are often the first line of defense. Integrating mental health awareness training into safety protocols can help reduce stigma. Open discussions by leadership can encourage workers to seek support without fear of jeopardizing their job security. Rotating labor-intensive tasks among crew members can help manage mental load and prevent burnout. Implementing peer support systems can help construction workers feel comfortable discussing mental health concerns with trusted co-workers.

Construction Working Minds provides training on mental health and suicide prevention, as well as workplace posters and employee quizzes. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline offers free and confidential support 24/7 in the U.S. by dialing 988; the crisis lifeline also offers chat and text. Crisis Text Line is free 24/7 by texting HOME to 741741 for anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, or self-harm. Many construction organizations recognize the importance of sharing mental health resources with workers; 94% of survey respondents agree. Many survey respondents also cite resources for professional advice, proper training, and disease control guidance.

Call to Action: Secure Your ABC Member Discount Before the May Deadline

For ABC South Texas contractors, enrolling before the May 2026 deadline is one of the highest-leverage workforce decisions available this year.

Call ABC South Texas at (210) 342-1994 to discuss eligibility, enrollment, or hosting an educational webinar. You can also scan the QR code on the ABC Insurance Trust flyer or contact ABC Insurance Trust at 800-621-2993 or insurancetrust@abc.org.

This is not a generic Mental Health Awareness Month gesture. It is a concrete step to combat high suicide rates, destigmatize mental health, protect workers, support families, and strengthen South Texas merit shop contractors. And while searches such as “agc mental health” show the issue is industrywide, ABC South Texas members now have a direct path to action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the TELUS Health EAP cover workers not enrolled in our medical plan?

Yes. The TELUS Health EAP through ABC Insurance Trust is a stand-alone plan that covers all employees, regardless of medical plan enrollment. That matters for apprentices, seasonal hires, and project-based crews.

Can family members use the EAP?

Eligible dependents, such as spouses and household family members, can typically access confidential counseling, financial, legal, and work-life resources. Confirm dependent eligibility with ABC Insurance Trust.

How is confidentiality protected?

TELUS Health clinicians handle EAP interactions, not ABC South Texas or the employer. Contractors receive de-identified aggregate utilization data, not names or case details.

What languages and access options are available?

TELUS Health offers multiple access options, including 24/7 phone support, instant chat, video, and in-person counseling, with multilingual support, including Spanish. Ask for Spanish-language job site materials.

How fast can we launch?

After paperwork is submitted and processed, implementation is typically measured in weeks, not months. If you are mobilizing for JBSA, Eagle Ford, healthcare, or corridor work, contact ABC South Texas early.