Mental health in the construction industry is an important topic, as studies have found that mental health problems among construction workers are very prevalent. Stress, depression, and anxiety are all issues that those working in the construction industry can come across so it’s vital that mental health awareness in construction is spread and that those seeking help know where to find it. In this article, we have highlighted a handful of the top mental health resources for construction workers available, letting you know where you can find help as an individual as well as support, training and advice for your company.
Building Mental Health
Building Mental Health is a very valuable resource to take advantage of, being a group of volunteers from the construction industry. They have pulled together to create an online resource of freely available industry-wide information to “tackle the mental health crisis in the construction industry.”
The industry experts that make up Building Mental Health have made it their mission to provide support and advice to increase mental health awareness in the construction and have looked to achieve this through a number of different means.
For example, there is their Building Mental Health Charter, which they are encouraging people to sign: “The objective of our charter is to demonstrate a commitment and acceptance that the companies or organisations engaged will adopt the charter principles.”
They also have teaching materials to help people recognise signs that a colleague might be struggling and encourage workplace conversations, known as their Tool Box Talk. On their website, you will also find information and links to mental health first aid training, downloadable videos, apps and much more.
Construction Industry Helpline/Lighthouse Club
Getting help to those who need it is a vital part of tackling mental health in construction, as is making help easily available to tradespeople on the job. This is where the Construction Industry Helpline comes in. The helpline is purposefully designed for those in the construction industry who are struggling with poor mental health as well as financial issues.
It is managed by the construction industry charity, The Lighthouse Club, and is available for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can call right now for immediate support and even text or email them if you prefer. The helpline is able to provide support in a number of areas, including stress, anxiety, depression, anger, sleep, and suicidal thoughts.
The Construction Industry Helpline even has an app that you can download, providing those who need it with even more support: “Our free Helpline App is the ultimate self-help tool in the palm of your hand. Each section of the app offers advice on a variety of conditions or issues, self-assessment tools, coping strategies and referral pathways to access expert advice and support.”
- The telephone number is: 0345 605 1956
- Text HARDHAT to 85258
Managers of the helpline, The Lighthouse Club is itself a valuable resource, being a charity that helps those in the construction industry by providing financial and emotional support to workers and their families. Head to their website to discover more, as well as information on how to support their important work.
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Spotlight on Mental Health
The Considerate Constructors Scheme is a not-for-profit, independent organisation founded to raise the standards of the construction industry. As part of their work, they have produced a mental health in construction PDF, called ‘Spotlight on Mental Health’.
This valuable resource is packed with facts and figures, legal information, and a library of helpful examples of best practices when it comes to supporting mental health in the UK construction industry.
“Spotlight on… mental health aims to raise awareness of how mental health can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, religion or ethnicity and can cause stress, anxiety and depression.”
This resource will be a great help to anyone looking to increase their understanding of mental health in construction, make improvements to their company, and find out what the industry is currently doing to tackle the issue.
You can also see an example of some of the best practices that have been witnessed by the Considerate Constructors Scheme. These include:
- Arranging for occupational health workers to advise on stress and mental health issues
- Providing confidential support and counselling
- Organising a mental health week to raise awareness
- Establishing a well-being room for workers to unwind and de-stress
From case studies and external resources to learning what you can do to help as a member of the industry, the Spotlight on Mental Health is a resource to take advantage of.
Mental health in construction statistics
There are some fascinating statistics available in the Spotlight on Mental Health report that vividly demonstrate the scale of the issue that the construction industry faces. Some of the tradesmen mental health statistics found in the PDF include:
- 1 in 4 construction workers have considered suicide
- A construction worker is more likely to die of suicide than they are from a fall from a height
- People working in construction are 63% more likely to die by suicide than the national average
- 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in any given year
Mates in Mind
While the issue of poor mental health within the construction industry is a serious one, the good news is that there are fantastic organisations working hard to spread awareness and make a difference. One of these is the charity Mates in Mind, which looks to promote positive mental well-being across the workplace, focusing on construction as well as connected industries.
Expressing its aims as a charity, Mate in Mind says: “Mates in Mind aims to provide clear information to employers about the available support and guidance on mental health and wellbeing, and how they can address this within their organisations.”
From mental health training courses to downloadable assets such as stress awareness fact sheets and an infographic about spotting the signs of a struggling colleague, Mates in Mind is a helpful resource. They even have a handy list of confidential support services for those who need help.
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NHS
If you are struggling with your mental health as a construction worker, you can get the help you need courtesy of the NHS. On their mental health services page, they make it clear how important it is to seek help by reaching out: “Your mental health is as important as your physical health. You will not be wasting anyone's time.”
The NHS urgent mental health helpline can be called 24-hours a day for support and advice, help speaking to a mental health professional, and an assessment to find the care you need.
Samaritans
Samaritans is a charity that works to make sure there is help for anyone who needs it, and this includes mental health. You can call for free on 116 123, 24 hours a day and someone will be on the other end of the phone to help you face whatever you are going through.
You can discover more ways that Samaritans can help if you are having a tough time here, including articles of tips and advice and a list of specialist organisations that can help.
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Mental health in construction resources
- Building Mental Health
- Construction Industry Helpline/Lighthouse Club
- Spotlight on Mental Health
- Mates in Mind
- NHS
- Samaritans
Tackling tradesmen’s mental health is a very important issue and the resources referenced in this article are a great place to start looking for help or learn about how you can make improvements in the industry.
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