Construction workers above the national average for greater risk of suicide
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September 14, 2017
Recent studies commissioned by Public Health England (PHE) found that certain groups of male construction workers were at greater risk of suicide, with figures 3.7 times above the national average.
UK contractor Willmott Dixon has now started the All Safe Minds campaign to ensure that everyone working on its project sites across the UK is fully aware of the support network available, should they feel unable to cope with their own personal situation.
In 2010, the All Safe culture-change initiative was introduced with the sole purpose of empowering the workforce with the right to speak up if they feel that safety conditions on site are not up to standard. To further strengthen the All Safe programme, and to encourage not only physical well-being, but also mental fitness across the industry, Willmott Dixon have now launched All Safe Minds.
All Safe Minds aims to instill a 3-step process into its daily work culture, encouraging all employees to:
- RECOGNISE. Be aware if you or someone you know is struggling to cope
- REACH OUT. Start the conversation. If you are struggling, talk to someone you trust. Or if you know a colleague is struggling, offer your support – simply lending an ear can make all the difference.
- REBUILD. Use the resources available to you to start taking back control.
The All Safe Minds campaign will make it as easy as possible for vulnerable workers to tap into a variety of resources, and is also working on a suite of supporting material that will be issued to everyone on site, for their own personal use should they ever feel the need.
Mark French, head of health, safety and environment for Willmott Dixon Group said: “Men are famous for not addressing their emotional issues, and when you add that to working in such a high-pressure industry, the results can be catastrophic. The purpose of All Safe Minds is to provide an easy route for anyone feeling they might need some support – providing them with the tools they need to make the all-important first steps. The 3 Rs; Recognise, Reach out, Rebuild, need to become second nature as we go about our daily routine and we need to completely dispel the idea that mental health problems are a taboo. Encouraging mental fitness is imperative in such a highly charged industry – the issue is real, it is NOT a weakness, and we have to offer the right support when we spot it.”
