In response to numerous reports highlighting the challenge of mental health in the construction industry, ASW Property Services, a property services specialist covering Wales, the Midlands and the South West of England, has unveiled a new strategy designed to support employees with mental health conditions.
The Office for National Statistics recently published figures showing the suicide rate in the construction industry is higher than in any other profession. This problem is backed up by a recent mental health survey by Construction News, which showed that nearly a third (30 per cent) of construction workers in the UK have taken time off work due to mental health issues over the past 12 months.
As part of the company\u2019s mental health awareness campaign, ASW now offers mental health and stress awareness sessions for its employees. The project kick-started with Mental Health in Construction sessions run by the Working Well Together (WWT) group, as part of its white van tour campaign for 2018 and Gofal, a leading mental health and wellbeing charity.
ASW also provide information packs and videos on the mental health support available as part of its company induction and site induction, given to all new starters (both office and site based) and sub-contractors.
Showing commitment to the project long-term, the company has recently pledged an annual donation to The Lighthouse Club, a charity that provides financial and emotional support to the construction community and their families and will organise a \u2018Lighthouse Day\u2019 next year to raise funds for the charity.
The company has also trained two staff as Mental Health First Aiders. Linzi Chellew and Carl Woodward are trained to offer support sessions and give advice to employees (and sub-contractors) suffering from mental health issues.
Linzi Chellew, Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) Officer at ASW, said that a big driver for the campaign is the fact that statistics show a high percentage of males in the construction industry do not feel comfortable informing their employer of their mental health issues. The Construction News survey showed that 63 per cent of individuals who have taken time off because of a mental health issue, have hidden the real reason for their absence from their employer.Chellew said:
\u201cI have worked in the construction industry for over 10 years, and I have seen first-hand how the pressure of dealing with mental health conditions can impact an employee. As construction is seen as a male dominated industry, there comes the stereotypical expectation that males do not tend to talk about emotions in the same way females do, and that mental ill-health is a sign of weakness, forming a stigma.
\u201cThis stigma stops people getting the help they need and therefore poses a risk. Like any risk, ideally it should be eliminated and we as a company are passionate about breaking down the barriers and making this happen. The statistics available are shocking \u2013 this really hit home, becoming the main driving force behind ASW\u2019s mental health awareness campaign.
\u201cWe are currently developing our policies to reflect mental health awareness and to highlight the support we offer as a company to all employees and sub-contractors working on our sites.\u201d
Anthony Thomas, managing director of ASW, said:
\u201cMental health is a subject very close to me. My staff are my priority and I want to support every single employee that is suffering from mental health conditions. The statistics showing the construction industry obtains more suicides than any other profession speaks for itself \u2013 more support needs to be offered and it is time the stigma surrounding mental health in a male dominated industry is removed.
\u201cI am extremely proud of all of my staff \u2013 both for working together to provide this support via our mental health awareness campaign and the company\u2019s workers, both office and site based, who have embraced the training and support facility and have already began using it. The feedback we have had makes it all worthwhile.\u201d
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