On World Mental Health Day, Karen Brookes talks about health stigma, tailored policies, support networks, and empathy in the construction sector
World Mental Health Day aims to raise awareness of the problems that can come from neglecting your mental well-being. With access to the right support, signs of strain don’t need to escalate to crisis moments, and it’s no secret that our industry, in particular, needs this more than others.
With statistics published earlier this year showing that 92% of construction workers don’t feel comfortable discussing their mental health with others, it’s clear that we still have a way to go in breaking the stigma about mental health and making wellbeing an industry-wide priority for us all. So how can we support better mental health onsite?
One size fits one
Remembering that there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to mental health is key. Businesses will, of course, have guidelines for the management of their workplaces to ensure consistency, but policies should be flexible enough to be tailored to individual needs. For example, this could take the shape of flexible working arrangements. Flexible working has been traditionally difficult to achieve in a site-based industry such as construction, but through open consultation, a constructive path forward can evolve to suit project teams and clients alike and allow site-based workers to enjoy the benefits of flexible working – from time to fit in wellbeing routines to any care responsibilities they might have.
Gender-neutral parental leave, and flexibility in how it is taken, can have similar benefits. At Sir Robert McAlpine, we offer 26 weeks’ full-pay maternity, paternity, or adoption leave which can be taken in one block in the year following birth or adoption or staggered over three years, helping all team members have the opportunity to bond with new additions and be their best selves when back at work.
Qualified support
The importance of empathy for and understanding of mental health in the workplace cannot be understated. Having qualified Mental Health First Aiders onsite who act as dedicated points of contact can make a real difference in spotting the signs of deteriorating mental health and acting as visible champions for the idea that seeking help for your mental health is not only okay but encouraged.
Mental Health First Aiders can also act as essential signposts to further support as needed – for example, at Sir Robert McAlpine, we can make appointments for our team members with an on-call occupational psychologist when necessary.
As an industry that is tragically and disproportionately affected by high suicide rates, particularly for men, it is essential we have the resources to respond to and provide the right form of support to those in need.
Immersive support
Similar to Mental Health First Aider training, turning to external companies like Acting Out Productions, who employ actors and interactive role-playing techniques for in-person training sessions, can make a real difference in supporting good mental health practices in the workplace.
Such immersive educational experiences can make training sessions truly memorable and make a tangible difference by allowing attendees to familiarise themselves with how mental health situations might play out in real-time or discuss potential next steps with their colleagues.
At Sir Robert McAlpine, we believe them to be so valuable we offer sessions to all people working on-site, not just our own staff.
Support networks
Feeling heard and like you belong is so important to mental well-being, and affinity networks can provide individuals with similar experiences or backgrounds a safe space to share their thoughts and can even lead to further positive developments for the business. For example, one issue identified by Sir Robert McAlpine’s affinity networks was unconscious bias. By developing specific training sessions with Acting Out Productions to address this issue, we will be able to action on the concerns our people have raised.
Mental and physical wellbeing
There can be external factors outside of work that may be affecting people’s mental well-being, and all too often, we become accustomed to masking emotions. But in a site-based industry like construction, mental health can also have a significant impact on health and safety.
Furthermore, if these symptoms – brain fog, associated with anxiety, for example – are not spotted early, mistakes could also be attributed to carelessness and met with criticism from managers, only exacerbating the problem rather than finding a solution.
Mental health is a universal human right
Mental health is not an add-on to everyday life but rather an intrinsic part of overall wellbeing. This is why this year’s theme for World Mental Health Day is ‘mental health is a universal human right’. So let this day be an opportunity for us to reaffirm our commitments to improving the state of mental health across the construction industry, with the goal that one day it can be held in the same regard as health and safety considerations. Today is as good a day as any to take that first step.
Karen Brookes
Chief people officer at Sir Robert McAlpine
