The UK is facing huge mental health challenges at work and the human cost of poor mental health at work is high. Over 300,000 people now state that they have long term mental health problems and 15% of people in work have symptoms of existing mental health conditions.
The cost to employers is also high with an annual cost of between £33-42 billion coming from presenteeism (individuals who are less productive due to poor mental health), sickness, absence and staff turnover.
The construction industry is one of the worst affected by mental health due to the number of high risk jobs. 56.7% of employees have experienced mental health issues and 63.3% said that they have hidden the real reasons why they have been absence, illustrating that there is still a stigma around mental health.
Get involved in the campaign
To help you understand the issues facing the sector, Telford Homes have put together a video on how the industry can work together to raise awareness and support employees.
The HBF is here to help employers understand mental health issues and how they can support their employees.
We are encouraging the home builders to take action in line with the Building Mental Health Framework.
Sign the Building Mental Health Charter
This first step sets out a commitment to supporting the mental health of employees and tackling the stigma associated with mental illness.
Signpost Support
Ensure your employees know how to access help, including any Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) and the confidential 24/7 construction industry helpline, run by Lighthouse Club.
You can request posters and cards promoting the helpline and App for social spaces in offices and across construction sites.
Deliver A Toolbox Talk
A Tool Box Talk is a fantastic way to deliver information to your workforce on mental health by educating them on the signs to look out for and how to start a conversation.
The Lighthouse Club has created a Tool Box Talk template that you can use and tailor to your own organisations branding below. The presentation comes with guidance notes, videos and is fully scripted. Click here to download.
Offer Mental Health Awareness Training
These training sessions allow staff to receive in-depth training about understanding mental health and identifying the warning signs of deteriorating health in employees and allowing pre-emptive measures to be taken.
Many organisations run awareness training sessions. The Building Mental Health website offers details.
Develop Mental Health First Aiders
A Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) is the dedicated person to go to for anyone experiencing some form of mental health issue. They are trained to recognise the symptoms of mental health and can guide those in are in need before it issues escalate.
MHFAs can play a vital role in helping to build a positive mental health culture and support network both at a site-level and within the company itself.
Visit Building Mental Health for recommended training providers.
Click here to access some helpful resources
Click here to access some helpful resourcesUseful Links
- The Lighthouse Club - A national charity working with construction workers and their families to provide financial and emotional support.
- Building Mental Health- Providing an industry wide charter and framework to tackle mental health in the construction industry.
- Mental Health First Aid England - My Whole Self campaign is calling on employers to become actively anti-racist. In 2020 we shouldn't have to leave parts of our identity behind - be that our cultural or ethnic background, sexuality, or health - when we work
- The British Dyslexia Association has been the voice of dyslexic people since 1972. They are a membership organisation working to achieve a dyslexia-friendly society for all.
- LANC-UK (Learning Assessment and Neurocare Centre) specialise in providing information on various learning difficulties, and assessments for adults.
- The Dyspraxia Foundation is committed to making the all professions more aware of dyspraxia; and to spread understanding of how those who have the condition can be helped.
- Bild work to develop the skills and culture necessary to understand people’s learning needs and improve their quality of life. Their approach applies a rigorous evidence base, broad expertise and long-standing experience to find and enable both short and long-term solutions that bring about lasting change.