Mental health

The number of suicides in the construction sector has risen to its highest level in at least five years, as a new industry initiative launches to tackle the issue. According to an analysis of Office for National Statistics figures by the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity and Professor Billy Hare at…

Framework provider Pagabo’s parent group has acquired mental health tech brand Moodbeam for an undisclosed sum, as part of a drive to break down the stigma surrounding emotional wellbeing in the construction industry. The 55 Group, Pagabo’s parent company, said it hoped that the monitoring technology would have a “significant…

Framework provider Pagabo has committed to incorporate mental health safeguards into its procurement processes in a bid to improve the sector’s “less than perfect” track record on employee wellbeing. The move was sparked by a report last month from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Issues Affecting Men and Boys, which…

Details of contractors’ mental health provisions should be written into contracts to help tackle a “national emergency” within the sector, a parliamentary group has advised. Highlighting what mental health support is available to staff working on jobs would entrench a greater focus on wellbeing and ensure it is “on par…

Construction industry charity the Lighthouse Club has joined a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) mental health campaign in the hope of reaching small businesses. The group, which provides financial and emotional support to construction workers and their families, is now a partner in the Working Minds campaign, launched by the…

Construction industry charity the Lighthouse Club is encouraging workers to talk to colleagues about their problems as part of a month-long campaign to tackle mental health issues. The charity’s ‘Talk to Us’ initiative, which will run throughout July, asks construction workers to open up and share their struggles with friends,…

Mark Gordon is health, safety & environmental director at Durkan Nowadays, it is highly likely that there are more mental health issues on construction sites than there are physical accidents. In an industry that is so focused on managing and mitigating safety risk, that is really not a surprising statement,…

Chris Hallam is a partner at CMS “UK builders go woke,” announced the Mail on Sunday last week. “Forget the stereotype that builders are wolf-whistling white-van men devouring greasy-spoon breakfasts and discussing sport as radios blare out inane pop music,” it proclaimed – simultaneously expressing surprise that builders are actually ordinary people while nevertheless…

A third of construction workers have struggled with stress and mental health in the last two years, but avoided taking time off, a Construction News survey reveals. Data from CN’s 2022 Mind Matters survey, which will be published in next month’s magazine edition, found that 36 per cent of 1,230 workers…

Financial concerns are the main reason construction workers struggle with mental health, according to a survey by materials supplier Ironmongery. A third of the workers who reported mental health issues said that concern over money was the reason for their difficulties. The firm’s report into the construction industry also found…