‘Mates in Mind’ is launched to improve and promote positive mental health in construction

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Written by: SafeWorkforce
30th January

Its purpose is to improve and promote positive mental health in the construction industry.

The construction workforce is exposed to many types of stress such as long working hours, travel, heavy workloads, job insecurity, fear of redundancy and family separation. It is also predominantly male and according to the Office for National Statistics suicide is the single biggest killer of men aged under 45 in the UK.

Tackling mental ill health in the workplace could also save businesses money. According to the Centre of Mental Health (2016) 91 million days are lost each year in the UK due to mental health problems resulting in £26 billion cost to employers.

Mates in Mind campaigns in partnership with leading mental health and construction partners, providing support, training and mental health promotion materials. The three awareness and training modules are designed to give employers and their workers a better understanding of mental health issues in the workplace:

  • Module 1: 45 min induction session to begin the conversation about mental health.
  • Module 2: 3.5 hour training course to increase awareness of mental ill health amongst foremen, supervisors and managers.
  • Module 3: 2 day Mental Health First Aid course for Construction.

More information can be found here: www.matesinmind.org