The survey is being run by engineering services trade bodies ECA and BESA, in association with the Prompt Payment Directory.

BESA head of legal and commercial, Debbie Petford, said: “Poor mental health is bad for wellbeing and bad for business. The survey is an important next step in the campaign to reform retentions and the late payment culture in the industry. It will help us gain an understanding of the human costs of these practices that are often overlooked.”

ECA director of legal and business, Rob Driscoll, added: “Mental health is an increasingly important - and costly - issue in both construction and wider society.

“This major initiative from ECA and BESA aims to connect the dots between poor payment practices and the impact on the mental health of business owners and senior managers, along with the wider impacts on other employees and their families.”

The survey, which is aimed mainly at business owners, CEOs and managers, contains just 12 questions and should take just minutes to complete. It runs until October 10 and answers are completely confidential.

Survey supporters cover a range of construction activity, including electrical, plumbing, building, scaffolding, roofing, civil engineering, fire safety, painting and decorating, and interiors. They include the National Federation of Builders, SEC Group and FETA.

The survey supporters are all part of a wider industry coalition pressing government to reform the practice of cash retentions in construction.