Mike Humphries talks to Mates in Mind about his difficult experiences in the third episode of Time to Talk
Content warning: This video discusses topics of suicidal thoughts.
Mike Humphries owns Green Hawk Construction along with two business partners.
He discusses his life experiences not only as a construction professional, but as a man, and from the start of his life.
Many in the construction industry say they did not have good school experiences
Mike begins his story discussing how he would classify himself as a “wayward child”, “as most tradespeople probably will.”
He was made about to be “naughty, aggressive,” and “wild.” He disputes this, saying that he is actually a caring person. He says that since his childhood, he’s been diagnosed with dyslexia, and is currently being assessed for ADHD. These things may have led to him being “written off early” as a child, as well as him becoming good at working with his hands.
Now a father of three, and able to think about these signals from an outside perspective, Mike feels that these things may have led to him being “written off early” as a child, as well as him becoming good at working with his hands.
Mike left school early, around 15 years old, to work in the motor trade. He joined a family run business that taught him the rules of business, and Mike became a master tech at 21 years old.
He then retrained as an electrician and had a mentor in the form of a neighbour.
Mark says that he felt negativity around being portrayed as a bad person since he was a child, but kept it inside until his father-in-law passed away when Mark was 24. He says that he noticed that during this difficult time, he noticed that nobody asked him how he was, instead asking him how people he knew were such as his wife and child. Mark seems to attribute this to being male and constantly being portrayed as a “bad person,” with people having a ‘man up’ attitude whether they knew it or not.
He discusses how his own experiences have forced him to keep emotions down, such as taking his father-in-law home from the hospital, and how he was “dying on the inside,” but had to not show it and be a “big boy.”
Business pressures can exacerbate mental health issues
Mike continues with the theme of having kept emotions suppressed, and the pitfall of this being how he never learned to properly deal with negative emotions.
He speaks of personal dark moments, with it being so bad at times that he “didn’t want to be around anymore.”
He says that “there’s nothing more powerful than your mind,” and that measures need to be taken to keep that in check, otherwise “it will consume you.”
The role of maintaining interests is also discussed, with Mike saying that playing rugby has helped him. He says that the role of the other players and his ability to open up to them has been a huge help, with them checking in on him. Mike has now become an ambassador for the club as well as captain of the team and has introduced hugging as greeting in the club to promote mental wellness. Physical fitness and being surrounded by positive people are key for Mike.
Communication is also a key point for Mike, saying that the “double ask” is important when asking about someone’s mental health – asking if someone is alright twice can often open the line to let people know that you’re there for them.
Mike is now open about mental health, saying that toughness or weakness has nothing to do with mental health.
Mates in Mind: Support for poor mental health in construction
With no dedicated HR department, outlets for sole traders to seek help are critical to tackling poor mental health in construction.
Mates in Mind is a charity that promotes awareness and tackling issues of poor mental health in the construction industry, and Fischer Fixings is working closely with the charity for the same goals by fundraising to provide helplines, webinars and HR support. These videos are part of their campaign to better the construction industry, and make it a safer workplace for all. They are currently promoting mental health amidst National Apprenticeship Week.
To support their mission of breaking down mental health stigma in our industry, please consider donating through the JustGiving page. https://tinyurl.com/mwwr2w9f
In the video, Mike encourages others to open up about their worries and find things that help them, in the hope that it will help more people and realise that there is nothing to be ashamed of and that, in fact, others feel the same way too. Calling a friend, family member, colleague, can be crucial in this process, whether via social media, webinars, leaflets, phone lines.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, you’re not alone. Please reach out to @matesinmind472 or other mental health services for support. Simply text “BeAMate” to 85258 and trained volunteers can help with issues including anxiety, stress, loneliness or depression and are available 24/7.
If you or someone you know is suffering, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK on 0800 689 5652.
In a life-threatening emergency, always call 999.
