Evaluation of construction workers mental health during COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria

Abstract

The need to ensure construction workers have good mental health is imperative because poor mental health has an economic cost that impacts individuals, companies, and nations. The aim of this study is to evaluate construction workers' mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. To achieve this aim, a survey questionnaire was developed and administered online to building environment professionals working on construction sites. The results show that stress, feeling overwhelmed, feeling unusually confused, fatigue, being unpredictable and anxiety were the top mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The result also revealed that training on mental health and the symptoms, awareness week activities, flexible working, and working from home policies were the top support provided by organisations for mental health wellbeing during COVID-19. The study concludes that difficulty in adapting to the challenges brought about by the deadly virus and its effect on the economy makes construction workers more susceptible to mental health challenges as it impaired their work life and thereby increasing their mental pressure.