Mental health

Paul Williams is health, safety and environment services manager for the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) No one is immune to the impact of poor mental health. It can ruin businesses, affect productivity and damage relationships. It also increases physical health and safety incidents. As an industry, construction continues to suffer…

Dawn Moore is group people director at Murphy Group. One in four people worldwide experiences poor mental health – a statistic that is well known to many. Everyone has some risk of developing a mental health disorder, no matter their age, gender, job or background, which is why so much…

Construction News has launched a survey to investigate the mental health of the industry’s workforce. As part of CN’s award-winning mental health campaign, Mind Matters, an anonymous survey has been opened to get a picture of the mental health of UK construction workers and find out what has changed in recent years. Statistics…

A new mental health helpline that construction workers can access via text message has been launched Construction workers and their families and friends can now text HARDHAT to 85258 to access anonymous and confidential help immediately via text. This helpline has been launched today (1 February) by the Lighthouse Construction…

A survey has found that one in three construction workers who are self-employed or work in a small firm live with “elevated levels” of anxiety every day. The stigma of mental illness also prevents them from being honest with family and close friends. These were the early findings from a…

Dr M May Seitanidi is a reader in strategy at Kent Business School, University of Kent Males working in the construction industry are at particular risk of suicide, representing the UK’s highest occupational risk group for years now. The highest level of risk – almost four times the national norm…

Tiya Thomas-Alexander speaks to workers about the mental health issues they have faced, how they have coped and those who have helped them

It began to rain, and Rob Muldoon blamed himself for it. “I was beating myself up,” the Manchester-based bricklayer recalls. Looking at the rain coming down, he thought…

Paul Hamer is chief executive officer of contractor Sir Robert McAlpine The construction industry is currently enduring twin challenges – one of mental health and one of productivity. These are complex and multifaceted issues, which need to be addressed using a variety of methods and approaches. Even then, there can…

Bam Construct has collaborated in the production of an emotive new video that aims to raise awareness and understanding of suicide risks in construction. The short film (embedded below), called On the Edge, was recorded at a site in Whitechapel, London, where Bam Construct is working on a £78m, 12-storey…

Melissa Barber is head of marketing and communications at Beard UK construction has suffered since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, with disruption to supply chains, fluctuating productivity rates, and the logistics of working within government restrictions. While these impacts have rightly led the headlines, the challenges to colleague…