Mental health

A website has been launched as part of the drive to reduce suicides and improve wellbeing in the construction industry. The Make It Visible portal provides access to information, advice and guidance, and is a pathway to free support. Its content – based on research carried out by the Lighthouse…

Ian Weinfass is Deputy Editor of Construction News We’ve been looking ahead to the next 12 months in recent days on CN with our people, companies and projects to watch for in 2023. I’m also going to go out on a limb and predict the following for 2023: there will…

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…