The British Safety Council in partnership with Health in Construction Leadership Group has launched the Mates in Mind programme to address mental health in the construction industry.
The second CEO health summit of the Health in Construction Leadership Group (HCLG) on in London saw the launch of the Mates in Mind programme, which aims to raise awareness and understanding of poor mental health in the construction industry. It gives managers the tools, information and training to make construction a healthier workplace. It also helps them start conversations with staff about their mental wellbeing and address the stigma associated with mental health.
Supported by leading mental health charities, such as Mind, Samaritans and Mental Health First Aid England, and industry bodies, including BOHS, Build UK, CITB, HSE, IIRSM and IOSH, the event was attended by 300 construction leaders and key influencers in the industry. They gathered to review the industry’s progress in eradicating occupational lung diseases and the success of campaigns such as ‘Breathe Freely’ and ‘No Time to Lose’, as well as the growing importance of mental health issues in construction.
Launching the Mates in Mind programme, Mike Robinson, Chief Executive of the British Safety Council, said: “In the UK, for every one working day lost due to injury, five days are lost due to ill-health, with nearly half of them relating to mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. The total number of working days lost each year in the UK due to mental health issues is 91m, which equates to £1,035 per employee (according to the Centre for Mental Health).
“Approximately one-sixth of the 2.1m construction workers in the UK are likely to be suffering from a mental health issue at any one point in time; a figure based on research by ONS. It’s a shocking statistic. Even more shocking is the fact that in the construction sector, people are 10 times more likely to die by suicide than from on-site accidents. Considering these alarming statistics, I struggle to understand why there’s so little focus on reducing suicide, compared to reducing accidents.
“The vision of the British Safety Council is that “no-one should be injured or made ill at work”. However, like the construction sector, historically, we’ve shouted safety and whispered health. The Health in Construction Leadership Group is determined to readdress this balance, and I’m proud to be the CEO of an organisation that isn’t just saying we agree, but is at the forefront of actually doing something about it.”
Leading mental health charities and social community organisations who are partnering Mates in Mind have expressed their support for the programme.
