Masculinity in Engineering: Share your voice

Suicide remains the leading cause of death for men under 50 in the UK. In engineering and technology, a sector where over 89% of the workforce is male, the prevalence of mental health challenges is a pressing concern. Research has shown that male engineers are 3.5 times more likely than their female counterparts to report self-harming or contemplating suicide.

We’re encouraging our members to participate in EqualEngineers’ Masculinity in Engineering Survey. Your insights and experiences are vital to understanding the current state of mental health in our sector and driving meaningful change.

Key findings from 2022

• Prevalence of mental health issues: Over 4 in 5 engineers reported experiencing emotional or mental health challenges.

• Culture: Half of women surveyed described engineering culture as masculine, compared to just 20% of men.

• Self-harm and suicidal thoughts: A concerning 25% of respondents had considered self-harm or taking their own life.

• Emotional expectations: More than 70% believe men in engineering are expected to suppress emotions, avoiding displays of weakness or fear.

• Employer support: Only 50% of engineers felt comfortable discussing stress with their employer.

Dr Mark McBride-Wright, Founder & Managing Director at EqualEngineers says: "For me, inclusivity in the workplace is a health and safety issue. Not being able to be open about who you are, because of attitudes and lack of diversity around you can lead to mental health issues and decreased wellbeing. In Construction, for example, an industry where suicide rates among men are more than three times the national average, more needs to be done to ensure that commitment to these issues goes much further than token inclusion policies.

Our survey revealed some alarming statistics that nearly one in 5 engineers have lost a work colleague to suicide, and over one in 5 have self-harmed or considered ending their own life through suicide.

We need to create parity of esteem between mental health and physical safety in engineering. We need to rapidly overhaul the way in which we approach culture change programmes within our industry, and we need to ensure everyone feels included, and is able to find their voice as part of the diversity narrative."

Take the survey 

The survey is open for a short amount of time, don’t miss this opportunity to make a difference.