Construction is more than bricks, beams, and deadlines. It’s about people. Behind every completed project are tradesmen and women carrying heavy physical loads and, often, even heavier emotional ones.
In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin interviews Josh Vitale, Founder of Project BUILT, to shine a light on a conversation too many avoid: mental health in construction.
Did you know a quarter of all opioid overdoses in the U.S. involve construction workers? Or that the suicide rate in the trades is among the highest of any industry? Josh calls these numbers the “canary in the coal mine,” warning us of deeper issues: lack of connection, crushing workloads, and isolation from family and community.
But this isn’t just another list of grim statistics. Josh offers solutions that will make any construction leader pause and rethink how they run their teams. For example, he talks about how family reconnection retreats can help heal long‑standing wounds. Imagine sending a crew member home with renewed hope and stronger relationships. What would that do for morale on your site?
Josh also shares that leadership vulnerability is a powerful tool. Instead of expecting your team to ignore personal challenges, he encourages leaders to step forward with honesty. Picture a foreman telling his crew, “I had to take time off for my family, and that’s okay.” That single sentence can ripple through an organization and change its culture.
Then there’s the elephant in the room: toxic bosses. Josh explains how a toxic manager can impact an employee’s mental health as deeply as a troubled marriage. Let that sink in. When a worker feels devalued at home and on the job, their ability to stay safe, focused, and productive plummets. Josh doesn’t just warn about this, he gives leaders tools to confront toxicity, set boundaries, and build healthier teams.
Here’s the best part: investing in your people doesn’t mean sacrificing productivity. In fact, the opposite happens. Josh and Ryan discuss how crews with strong connections and emotional safety actually perform better, meet deadlines, and take pride in their work.
Curious about how to implement this in your own company? Want to know more about Josh’s upcoming family retreat initiative or the massive Construction Suicide Prevention Week movement with over half a million participants?
Listen to the full episode to discover practical steps you can take right now to build a safer, stronger, and more connected construction team.
Connect With Josh:
Website: https://getbuilt.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-vitale-vitalchemy/
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