Journal of Engineering, Project, and Production Management, 2025, 15(5), 2025-171
Emerging Mental Health Challenges in Construction Industry through Web Crawling
1
Undergruate Research Assistant, Department of Psychology, Roger Williams
University, 1 Old Ferry Rd, Bristol, RI 02809, zatay636@g.rwu.edu
2 Former Undergruate Research
Assistant, School of Engineering, Computing, and Construction
Management, Roger Williams University, 1 Old Ferry Rd, Bristol, RI
02809, morrisettathena@gmail.com
3 Assistant Professor, Department
of Computer Science, Kennesaw State University, 1000 Chastain Rd NW,
Kennesaw, GA 30144, jnoh3@kennesaw.edu
4 Associate Professor, School of
Engineering, Computing, and Construction Management, Roger Williams
University, 1 Old Ferry Rd, Bristol, RI 02809, akanderson@rwu.edu
5 Assistant Professor, Department
of Architecture and Construction Management, Farmingdale State College (SUNY),
2350 Broadhollow Rd, Farmingdale, NY 11735, leej15@farmingdale.edu
(corresponding author).
Project Management
Received December 10, 2024; revised June 23, 2025; August 20, 2025; accepted August 21, 2025
Available online November 25, 2025
Abstract: The construction industry faces a mental health crisis, with rates of suicide and substance abuse that outstrip those in other sectors and significantly contrast with the improvements seen in general worker safety. While prior studies have documented the prevalence of mental health issues in construction, little is known about whether the industry itself recognizes and addresses these issues. To this end, this study aims to examine how mental health is represented within recent construction industry discourse. This goal is achieved through an analysis of 6,280 Engineering News-Record (ENR) articles published between 2017 and 2024, employing topic modeling to identify trends in language and thematic evolution. Findings reveal a notable increase in mental health mentions post-2020, likely influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, with discussions often framed around crisis terms such as “stigma,” “substance abuse,” and “suicide prevention.” Language promoting preventive and resilience-building measures, however, remains scarce. These patterns suggest the need for a revised safety protocol within the construction industry, one that formally integrates mental health support with physical safety protocols, advancing a more comprehensive approach to worker well-being.
Keywords: mental health, construction industry, workplace safety, substance abuse, topic modeling, occupational health.
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Citation: Atay, Z., Morrisett, A., Noh, J., Anderson, A., and Lee, J. H. (2025). Emerging Mental Health Challenges in Construction Industry through Web Crawling. Journal of Engineering, Project, and Production Management, 15(5), 2025-171.
DOI:
10.32738/JEPPM-2025-171
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