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Mental Health in the Trades Report 2026: Balancing the Load
by Emily Michie
Working in the trades industry offers diverse and rewarding opportunities, but unfortunately many tradespeople continue to face difficulties coping with the unique pressures and demands of their jobs.
To mark Mental Health Awareness Week 2026, we once again surveyed people working in the trades to highlight the ongoing mental health challenges across the sector. By combining data with real, relatable stories, we aim to explore the struggles tradespeople face balancing work pressures with home life, and the importance of looking out for each other.
This report explores the scale of the issue, how things have shifted since last year, and what more can be done to better support people across the trades industry.
Who's Affected?
More than half (60%) of tradespeople admit they experience work-related stress at least once a month, with 21% saying this stress occurs at least once a week.
This figure is concerning, showcasing the number of people currently struggling. However, it does reflect a positive shift compared to last year's results, where 84% of tradespeople said they experienced work-related stress at least once a month, and half of that group (42%) experienced stress every week.
(60%) of tradespeople experience work-related stress at least once a month
Despite this improvement, there is still work to be done. Nearly three in ten (29%) of tradespeople say they've experienced mental health struggles due to their current job, and a further 18% preferred not to say, suggesting the true figure may be higher. This highlights the continued need for support and awareness to tackle these challenges.
These figures also represent progress from last year, where almost half (47%) of tradespeople reported experiencing mental health struggles due to their current job. This suggests a positive shift, as conversations surrounding mental health and wellbeing become more common across the industry.
Russell Payne, a third-generation painter and decorator and host of The Talking Tradesmen podcast, shared that 'More people than ever are talking about mental health, and a lot of people are doing great work to raise awareness.' Despite this, he states, 'There's still a lot of work to be done. If we're anywhere, we're at the beginning.'
of tradespeople said they experienced mental health struggles due to their current job this year
of tradespeople said they experienced mental health struggles due to their current job last year
'There are a couple of lads that I grew up with in the building trade who took their own life. I realised there was an issue among my people, working-class men.'
Russell
Tradesman Podcast Host
Russell began The Talking Tradesman podcast after facing his own mental health struggles. He explained, 'There are a couple of lads that I grew up with in the building trade who took their own life. I realised there was an issue among my people, working-class men.'
Motivated to make change, Russell began volunteering with the Samaritans and working on crisis calls. It was here that he noticed a concerning pattern, 'I had no idea it was that bad. The amount of people in the trades I was talking to was disproportionate to the number of calls we were getting.' This experience further reinforced his decision to create a platform for open conversations.
His podcast gives space for people to share their story and mental health struggles, helping to break down the stigma within the industry. The response Russell has received also demonstrates a positive shift,
'I thought I'd struggle to get people to talk on the podcast, but it's been the opposite. Nearly everyone has approached me to tell their story.'
Compared to our report last year, which focussed on the difficulties tradespeople face opening up about their mental health, this suggests encouraging progress in breaking down the stigma and normalising these conversations.
Balancing Work and Home Life
The difficulties balancing work and home life are a huge factor impacting tradespeople's mental health, with over half (53%) struggling to maintain this balance at least once a fortnight and almost a quarter (24%) sharing they struggle weekly.
Work travel, a lack of time off, and client expectations are all factors that can contribute to difficulties with this balance. Shane Francis, a 28-year-old window fitter, shared, 'It can be very difficult to switch off from work. Jobs stay in your mind until they're finished, and you feel constantly stressed until you meet your deadline.'
Over half (53%) of tradespeople struggle to balance work and home life at least once a fortnight
Russell Payne shared that being self-employed, which is the reality for many people in the industry, can have a big impact on balancing work and home life. 'Most of us are self-employed, with no set payment terms and companies going over or under. I could work 100 hours this week and no HR department is telling me to calm down and, if anything, it's glorified to overwork on social media.'
Shane also shared his insight, 'Being self-employed means work feels 24/7. You have no holiday or sick days, so it feels like you're not allowed to switch off.' Workplace culture can also have a significant impact on work-life balance and the mental health of tradespeople. Russell explained, 'It's a "work hard, play hard" industry, with a lot of people dipping in and out of toxic behaviours and addictions.'
He also shared that the large workload tradespeople take on is often overlooked, explaining, 'I struggle with not thinking I'm working if I'm not physically hands-on with the tools. What isn't taken into account is all the time spent going out quoting, driving, invoicing, doing paperwork, taking phone calls, and managing social media.'
Russell added that these responsibilities often extend beyond a working day. 'A lot of people do their off-site tasks later in the day or on the weekend. It's long hours, and sometimes people don't realise they're doing so many.'
The Impact of Work on Home Life
The reality of these trade-specific pressures is that workers' home lives can suffer. With one in three (33%) of tradespeople saying fatigue from work affects their personal life, it's evident that long hours and physical demands take a toll. Shane shared how exhaustion affects his daily life, explaining he often finds himself needing a power nap after work due to early starts and long days.
Other impacts include reduced time for hobbies (31%), less time with family (25%), and increased stress at home (24%).
One in three (33%) tradespeople say fatigue from work affects their personal life.
'I used to go to the gym seven days a week; however, I haven't been in over six months because of early starts. Your social life, mental health, and physical health change a lot,'
Shane added.
'The switch off time and the family balance is a huge issue'
Russell Payne
Changing the Stigma
James Ford is the founder of JT MOTIV, a platform built from lived experience.
JT MOTIV began in lockdown with direct, honest WhatsApp posts and grew into a platform across social media. James speaks from addiction, poor mental health, and real consequences, sharing his story in construction sites and other workplaces. 'The real work happens on site, face to face with people who are struggling and not saying a word.'
In his first year of gambling, James hit a point where he didn't want to be here anymore. That is the reality he brings into every talk.
Through JT MOTIV, James aims to challenge behaviours, break silence, and push people to take responsibility for their mental health before it becomes a crisis.
He shares his powerful story and encourages workers to get help if they need it.
'I think people can relate to me. Lived experience is important. People want to feel heard, listened to, and seen.'
After James' first talk, a man in his 60s came forward and admitted he was struggling. That night, his wife said he came home a different man. 'The response was phenomenal.'
Looking Out for Each Other
Just over one in three (34%) of tradespeople have noticed a colleague struggling with their mental health or workload. Encouragingly, 85% of tradespeople said that they felt comfortable checking in with their colleague. To ensure this number continues to grow, our interviewees shared what they believe employers can do to better support their workers.
James Ford challenges the 'man up and get on with it' mindset that dominates construction and high-pressure workplaces. 'That mindset is not strength, it is avoidance, and it is costing lives.'
'On site, everyone wears PPE: hard hat, boots, glasses. No one protects their mind.'
Russell Payne echoed these views, explaining, 'We need to normalise these conversations from the top down. People don't ask people if they're okay because they don't know what to do if somebody says no. That is terrifying.'
of tradespeople have noticed a colleague struggle with their mental health or workload
'If you go on any site and ask workers if they know someone who's taken their own life, I'd be amazed if anyone says no because it is so common'
Russell Payne
Russell reinforces the need for education, stating, 'The responsibility of the person who's been told that someone is struggling is to know the resources they can point them in the direction of. More education needs to happen, so people know what to do in those circumstances on site.'
Despite many tradespeople's willingness to support colleagues, several barriers still prevent them from checking in.
Barriers to Checking In
Our survey results concluded that the most common barriers that prevent tradespeople from checking in with a colleague include worries about how they might react, with (36%) of respondents expressing this concern.
One in three (33%) also shared that not wanting to overstep is what prevents them from reaching out to offer support.
Not knowing what to say (19%) is another factor, reinforcing Russell's earlier point, 'On site, if someone asks you how you are, the reality is the person asking doesn't want to know the answer. They want you to say you're fine as there are worries about what to do with the information that you're struggling.'
James also stressed the importance of responding correctly when someone opens up, sharing, 'If someone comes over and says they're struggling, the worst thing you can do is brush them off. That person will find it difficult to ask for help later down the line. If they're more educated, they can point them in the direction of available resources.'
Workplace culture (17%) is also a barrier, which Russell explained, 'I think the likelihood is that the typical response given is something like, "Man up, there's people going through worse." Or "Sorry you're feeling like that, let's mask it with a pint."'
These barriers are likely why some tradespeople still don't feel comfortable having open conversations about their mental health and reinforces the importance of education around this subject.
of tradespeople worry about how their colleague will react
'You don't believe how much strength there is in being vulnerable and asking for help,'
James Ford
Mental Health Resources
Half (50%) of tradespeople revealed they don't know how to access mental health support or are unsure where to turn.
Only 21% have accessed mental health support services, further highlighting the need for greater awareness around available resources.
of tradespeople don't know how to access mental health support or are unsure where to turn.
The Lighthouse Charity provides 24/7 holistic support to the UK and Ireland construction community, including tradespeople, on all aspects of emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing.
This support can be accessed through a free and confidential 24/7 helpline, a live web chat service, and a text facility which provides support on a wide range of wellbeing issues.
'Construction is a physically and emotionally demanding industry and has the highest proportion of self-employed workers than any other sector. Tight deadlines, long hours and a transient workforce can cause a number of mental wellbeing issues if not managed appropriately.'
The Lighthouse Charity
To conclude our report for 2026 Mental Health Awareness Week, we'd like to reinforce that while progress is being made, there is still a lot of work to be done to break the stigma around mental health in the trades.
Tradespeople continue to face significant challenges, making switching off and having a healthy work-life balance difficult.
Education and awareness around how to best support one another remains crucial. By continuing to share real stories and highlight available support, we hope to play a part in creating a culture where tradespeople feel supported both on and off-site.
These findings demand action. When half of tradespeople don't know where to access mental health support, we must do more to reach them. Mental Health Awareness Week is a powerful reminder that awareness alone isn't enough — in the trades, where fatigue and isolation run deep, action is what improves and saves lives.
Denise Kent
CEO Basildon Mind.
