Builders Should Treat Mental Health and Substance Abuse as Safety Issues
Every week during National Safety Month, NAHB and other partners will focus on a different aspect of jobsite safety. This week is mental health and substance abuse.
Everyone agrees that substance abuse carries a very real safety issue on jobsites. But how should you address an employee or contractor that you suspect is impaired? And is your goal to treat them and have them return to work safely as soon as possible?
NAHB has numerous resources that can help identify and address substance abuse issues and create a path for return to work, including resources for tackling Opioids in the Home Building Industry and a video toolbox talk on Substance Misuse.
Mental health issues may not be considered a safety concern, but workers who are distracted by or fatigued due to their mental health circumstances may pose a real danger to themselves and others on jobsites.
Although mental health is a tricky issue for many, the most powerful and direct first step to addressing them with a worker is a simple, “How are you doing?” When someone knows they are supported, seeking professional help is much easier.
NAHB also has resources to help home builders navigate these tricky conversations. Check out the various resources on the Mental Health and Wellbeing page, and watch the video toolbox talk on Mental Health, also embedded below.
It can be difficult to talk about mental health and substance abuse, but in an era of labor shortages and heightened stress, it’s a business necessity to keep workers safe and on the job.
Latest from NAHBNow
Membership
Oct 06, 2026
Median Revenue of NAHB Associate Members Climbs to All-Time High
According to NAHB’s most recent member census from 2025, approximately two-thirds of NAHB’s total members are Associate members. These members include those involved in a wide range of support industries and professions including, trade contractors, manufacturers, retailers/distributors, designers, and architects.
Sustainability and Green Building
Oct 06, 2026
How NGBS Green +WELLNESS Can Help You Target Key Home Buyer Preferences
As people spend more time in their homes, more buyers — especially on the high end of the market — are focusing on how the home lives and functions through above-standard certifications such as water efficiency, indoor air quality and energy efficiency.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Oct 05, 2026
Two-Story Foyer Share Edges Up in 2025
In 2025, around a quarter of new homes were built with a two-story foyer, slightly up from 2024, according to data obtained from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) and tabulated by NAHB.
Economics
Oct 05, 2026
Trade Contractors Account for 42% of Associate Members
Every year since 2008, the NAHB has conducted a member census in order to better understand the composition and characteristics of the people who belong to its organization.
Economics
Oct 02, 2026
U.S. Economy Adds 29,000 Jobs in September as Prior Months Are Revised Down
The U.S. labor market cooled in September, with nonfarm payroll employment increasing by just 29,000 as downward revisions erased most of August’s previously reported strength. The unemployment rate edged up to 4.2%, as both employment and the labor force continued to grow.