The Mental Health statistics for construction are concerning.

• Every single working day in the UK two construction workers take their own life
• Stress, anxiety and depression account for a fifth of all work-related illness
• Every year over 2.4 million days are lost through injury or illness in our industry

It is vital that businesses make this a priority and both provide and access support to individuals.  Business leaders can suffer too – remember are not alone and support is available in many forms. 

Look out for the signs and remember #kindnessmatters

Below features a number of resources that can support you and your company on your mental health journey

You are not alone – Get Construction Talking

FIS is supporting the Get Construction Talking Campaign. Run by Procore and B1M.  This global campaign is uniting the sector and helping to move the Mental Health conversation to the top of the priority list.  A central plank of the campaign is an Action Plan that provides Individuals and Organisations some clear and practical steps that they can implement in order to  better suport those around them.

You can download a FREE copy of the Action Plan here.

Amazing support available from the Lighthouse Charity

Lighthouse Charity runs the Construction Industry Helpline – this 24/7 helpline offers free and confidential support and advice on a wide variety of wellbeing issues. Expert helpline advisors provide a listening ear and can signpost you to additional support where necessary. The Helpline is supported by a team of specialist caseworkers who are able to support you with complex and multiple issues, and will work with third party organisations to ensure that you are able to access all the possible support available.

Tel: 0345 605 1956 (UK) 1800 939 122 (ROI)

The Helpline is supported by a free app developed to be a preventative tool which provides support at the initial stages of a situation so that problems do not reach crisis point.  The App can be downloaded in Android and IOS from here

The Lighthouse Charity’s  Help Inside the Hard Hat Campaign supports above by providing free resources for businesses to download to help support a focus on mental health in your business.

Wellbeing Training with the Supply Chain Sustainability School

FIS has a partnership with the Supply Chain Sustainability School.  Through the school members have access to a wide range of training focussed on wellbeing and welfare improvement across the whole value chain and built environment.  This includes addressing some of the key causes of mental health problems, how to create an inclusive and open workplace, menopause management and how to cope with anxiety.

To access this dedicated and FREE range of training resources, click here.

Additional useful resources 

Where to find a helping hand
As part of #StressAwarenessMonth the CICV Forum (a group of Construction Trade Associations in Scotland that FIS is a member of) produced an excellent a guide to mental wellbeing, with a comprehensive overview of leading charities and support networks and advice on where to find essential services.

Mind Charity’s – Mental health at Work Commitment and Training
The Mental Health at Work Commitment is based on the acclaimed Thriving at Work standards. It pulls from pledges and standards that are already out there, using up-to-date research from UK employers and mental health experts.  The Commitment, and the 6 standards which underpin it, are a roadmap that can support any organisation to achieve better mental health outcomes for their people.  The Commitment is backed by a raft of resources and training.

Mates in Mind Mental Health Toolkit
The pack includes a range of tailored materials to support organisations to start the conversation about mental health, signpost employees to support services and to highlight the organisations partnership with Mates in Mind.

An FIS Member should never feel alone, we are a community, please remember that your problems are our problems – 0121 707 0077 #TogetherWeAreStronger