Nearly one in three tradespeople, 30%, have taken days off work because of their mental health over the past 18 months, according to new research from Direct Line business insurance.
On average, tradespeople took five days off, with nearly one in ten taking between one and two weeks to recover.
Another third, 34%, said they should have taken time off because of a mental health issue but felt that they had to push through and work anyway.
The findings come amid a busy period for tradespeople. Almost half have seen an increase in their workload over the last 18 months. They are working an average of 4.8 hours more each week and almost three extra days a month.
For many, this rise in workload is leaving them exhausted. Nearly a quarter have experienced burnout due to being so busy, while more than four in ten feel increasingly stressed and anxious as a result. However, this is not the only factor contributing to mental health issues.
The study found that reasons for stress and anxiety are diverse, ranging from budgetary worries to the ongoing pandemic.
More than one in ten tradespeople, 12%, who are experiencing stress and anxiety have not taken any action to deal with it. One in three, 35%, do not think there’s enough awareness of mental health problems within the sector, which could be contributing to this reluctance to talk.
Jane Morgan, product manager at Direct Line business insurance, said: “The recent rise in tradespeople’s workload has led to stress and burnout, while financial concerns and tool theft are contributing to a general sense of anxiety. With more than a third feeling that there isn’t enough awareness of mental health among tradespeople, more needs to be done to help workers find the support they need.”