Mental health

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

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…

Amos Simbo is director of Winway Consultants and founder of the Black Professionals in Construction Network (BPIC) Poor mental health, at times referred to as stress, is something we all deal with on a daily basis within the construction industry. Every day when we arrive on site, we are faced…

Evidence shows the construction industry has a shockingly poor record on mental health. Greg Pitcher examines why this is the case and what can be done about it

The construction industry has made great strides with health and safety, especially around worker safety and preventing physical injuries and deaths. But there are huge improvements that still need to be made in protecting the mental health of workers. “Remember that an employer’s duty under the Health and Safety at…

Lone-working in the construction industry has typically been the preserve of site-based staff, particularly in the infrastructure sector. The pandemic has changed this, however. The government’s call that “everyone who can work from home must do so” has meant many office workers are now working at home on their own,…

Research commissioned by the Electrical Contractors Association has revealed the vast majority its largest members have set up mental health and wellbeing initiatives. The report found that 89 per cent of the 24 largest ECA members by turnover surveyed had trained mental health first aiders. Some 83 per cent of…