In partnership with mental health charity Mates in Mind, Fischer Fixings sit down with Tom Milham from TCM Air Conditioning Services to discuss some of the most critical mental health challenges faced by workers in the construction industry
In the first video of a 5-part series, Tom discusses his life story, significant events that have shaped him and affected his mental health, and how having poor mental health interacts with his construction career.
Content warning: This video discusses topics of suicidal thoughts, child abuse, and substance abuse.
In Time to Talk Ep. 1, Tom shares several powerful messages, from how past trauma can affect your mental health in the present to how difficult it can be to find support that matches individual needs, especially when self-employed.
Tom openly admits to moments when he has broken down crying in his van due to the overwhelming pressures of jobs going wrong, payments not being made, and a mounting workload.
“Man-up” mentally prevents construction workers from getting mental health support
His story shows a sense of isolation – not just for himself at certain low points in his life – but for a vast majority in the construction industry. He highlights the issues that workers often have to face in the construction industry, such as having to chase payments, working long hours despite poor mental health, or personal issues outside of work.
Tom mentions that people can feel stifled within the construction industry, citing that a small element of a “man-up” attitude can have a big effect on stopping construction employees from opening up about how they’re feeling or reaching out to dedicated support networks. If the employee doesn’t have a personal support network as well, it can be extremely difficult to deal with poor mental health, especially if crisis-point is reached.
83% of construction workers have struggled with mental health
In 2020, a survey by CIRP revealed that 87% of UK construction workers had experienced anxiety, 70% had experienced depression, and 26% had suicidal thoughts.
In 2021, 507 construction workers committed suicide, a rate of 34 per 100,000, or 10 per week. This means that a construction worker is around 10 times more likely to die by suicide than to die in a workplace accident. Especially concerning when one considers that workplace incidents increase in likelihood when in a state of poor 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.
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, Tom encourages others to open up about their worries 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. Free and easy-to-access resources are crucial in this process, whether via social media, webinars, leaflets, or 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.
