The silent crisis

The key steps in building a supportive work culture on-site for better mental health

THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY has long been vulnerable to mental health issues due to the stifling crises, strenuous hours, and job insecurity. Fix Radio are tackling the stigma surrounding mental health in the construction industry and highlight the dire need to improve support readily available to tradespeople.

According to research, 82% of builders in the UK grapple with work-related mental health problems every year, with an overwhelming 92% admitting to feeling uncomfortable discussing their mental health, perpetuating the stigma surrounding mental health in the construction industry.

The need to improve the support available to employees and business owners in the industry is further highlighted in new research from Fix Radio, which shows that a shocking 38% of tradesmen are now experiencing the worst levels of stress and anxiety in their lifetime.

In search of support, the demand for national helplines highlights the growing desperation among industry professionals. The Big Brew, a national helpline, revealed that over a third of texts were from individual construction workers contemplating suicide, with 16% of those related to depression. Highlighting the urgency of this crisis, the helpline further unveiled that 80% of their usage occurs during the working week.

This comes at a challenging time, where overwhelming work schedules, material shortages and new environmental directives, have left hundreds of thousands of small businesses on the verge of breaking point, Fix Radio’s study found.

Clive Holland, host of The Clive Holland Show, has shared his thoughts on how the mental health crisis is impacting the trades sector, "There are several underlying reasons why the rate of suicide in the construction trades is so high. Firstly, there is a macho image in the industry and men are not brilliant at ‘opening up’ and discussing their feelings. But I feel that this is changing slowly, but surely.

“Secondly, there is a lot of stress involved in running a small business – there are long hours, few holidays, slow payers and cash flow issues. In the last two years particularly, spiralling costs of materials and spiking energy prices have squeezed margins even further. Couple that with the growing skills shortage – it ramps up extra pressures on daily site life. The pandemic has magnified many of these problems – tradespeople will tell you that they have never been this busy. Many are fully booked until the end of the year, if not further.

“It is also worth remembering that while many of our tradespeople have fantastic skills and deliver outstanding work, the weakest part of their game is dealing with the details of their business. Great tradespeople are not necessarily great businesspeople and it is worth remembering that they often feel intimidated by the admin and financial side of the business.”

Where can tradespeople go for help?

The Lighthouse Club is 100% focused on improving the welfare and wellbeing of the construction community in the UK. They provide a range of free and pro-active services to help companies deliver support to their employees and families:

24/7 Confidential Helpline: Available to everyone on your site including subcontractors, agency workers and allied trades. Their Construction Industry Helpline covers all aspects of emotional, physical and financial wellbeing, and is available in many different languages through translation services. Self-support app: A downloadable Wellbeing Support App called ‘Construction Industry Helpline’ that covers all the aspects of wellbeing. The app is packed with information to learn about conditions, how to develop coping strategies with signposting to over 3,000 accredited organisations that provide support. It really is a ‘mate’ in your back pocket.

Text HardHat: A 24/7 service dedicated to providing immediate access to text back counselling.

Wellbeing Masterclasses: One-hour scheduled wellbeing education sessions covering topics such as: managing stress, building resilience, work-life balance, mindfulness, meditation, financial management and many more. CPD Accredited.

Lighthouse Beacons: Over 160 volunteer centres around the UK and Ireland where workers can drop in to meet likeminded people, socialise and talk. The Beacons are facilitated by individuals with lived experience, and in this confidential environment, encourage those struggling with life problems to share their issues and if required, seek further help.

Fix Radio, the Builders Station is the home of entertainment, music and information for UK trades.