Mental Health Awareness in Home Building

Following the launch of HBF’s Mental Health Awareness campaign, a survey was launched to understand the work home builders were doing and the impact mental health was having within their own companies. As part of the campaign, HBF and its members committed to following a five-step framework to build a positive mental health culture within their organisations. To read the full report click here

The Construction Industry Helpline is ran by the Lighthouse Construction Charity. If you or your family work in the construction industry or allied trades and need advice on welfare or mental wellbeing, emergency financial aid or support in legal, tax or debt management then phone 0345 605 1956. If you do not wish to talk to someone, you can use the Construction Industry Helpline app that is free to download and can provide tools and information on coping strategies, self-assessment tools and access to expert advice and support. The app can be downloaded through the Apple App store or Google Play store. For more information, click here.

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HBF has created a free social media toolkit to be used to promote Mental Health Awareness Week. Choose what messages and images that suit your social channels and remember to use the hashtags #mentalhealthawarenessweek and #ivebeenthere.

The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity has launched its Help Inside the Hard Hat campaign to raise awareness of mental health issues in the construction industry. It has created downloadable posters for sites and hoarding to help spread awareness of the support available. To find out more click here.

Time to Change has created a number of activities employees can use to start conversations and change attitudes around mental health. From a 15 myth busting quiz and craft sessions to break out sessions on fighting stigma there is something to suit groups of all sizes. Click here to learn more.

Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA)has been sharing some quick and simple ideas to help you promote this year's theme of nature. 45% of people reported being in green spaces has been vital for their mental health during the pandemic and are encouraging people to share a selfie with the hashtag #ConnectwithNature to promote positive wellbeing. There is also guidance available to support your mental health while working from home, click here to find out more.

The Health & Safety Executive has joined forces with the Construction Leadership Council to encourage the whole industry to start a conversation about employee stress. To ensure that every business has the support it needs to look after its employees, they have published a Talking Toolkit guide on how to prevent work related stress in construction. To access this, click here.

CALA Homes has extended its partnership with Samaritans following a year of support which saw the charity receive more than £144,000 from the housebuilder in corporate donations and through the fundraising efforts of our staff, suppliers and subcontractor partners. For more information, click here.

CALA Homes (West) has installed a bench from Breathing Space, a mental health support service, at its Jordanhill Park development in the West End of the city. Breathing Space, a phone service which aims to help people in Scotland living with anxiety or depression, launched its bench project in 2019 and features a plaque which contains information on Breathing Space, and directs people to the helpline for listening and support, which is available in the evenings and at the weekends for anyone feeling low, stressed or anxious. For more information, click here.

Redrow, has extended its health and wellbeing programme ‘My Life’ to all sub-contractors as part of its objective to improve health and wellbeing within the construction industry. This initiative follows Redrow’s health and wellbeing review, part of which was to assess the health risks of its employees and sub-contractors through the introduction of ‘health kiosks’. To find out more, click here.

Mental health has never been more important and over the past year, Vistry Group has taken huge strides in its commitment to the cause. Vistry is recognising this years theme of nature by sharing a series of stories from staff. One story is from Group PR Photographer and Videographer, Alex Perkins, who has recently discovered a new hobby – hiking! “I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors. I go camping a lot and pre-pandemic I did a lot of travelling too. And as a photographer - whether I’m taking pictures for work or for leisure – it often involves being outside. Read his story here.

The Supply Chain Sustainability School (SCSS) and their partner Fortel Group, has launched a new campaign encouraging the industry to embrace diversity and create conversations around mental health. It is hoped that more people will also be encouraged to take training such as SCSS Fairness, Inclusion and Respect ambassador programme or Mental Health First Aider training. Find out more here.

The team at South Home Counties Cala Homes recently lent a helping hand to its national charity partner, Samaritans, arranging for some vital maintenance work and decorating to be completed within a local charity shop. Read the full story here.

Countryside have put together some of their resources on mental health wellbeing to share with subcontractors and supply chain, to view the information download the poster and scan the QR code.