Mental Health
HELP AT HAND FOR HIDDEN PROBLEM
Up to two workers a day on Britain’s construction sites are committing suicide. Now a new campaign has been launched to help those in need of support Words: Trevor Gehlcken
For too long, the construction and infrastructure industry has treated mental health as the poor cousin of physical health
D
espite an increasing number of measures being taken on Britain’s construction sites to keep workers safe, up to two people a day are taking their own lives. This shocking news comes from the Office of National Statistics and highlights what has, up until now, been a largely hidden problem. But for people contemplating suicide, help is available – and now a new campaign intends to highlight this fact and bring the problem to an end. Working with the Lighthouse Club and construction contractor Balfour Beatty, Ford is seeking to actively promote wellbeing awareness among its van customers. With Ford accounting for almost one in three new commercial vehicles sold throughout 2021 – and higher into the construction industry – putting mental safety on an equal footing with physical safety on building sites is an important step for this group of customers. By helping to make the support more visible, more workers will be able to seek assistance from available resources. Mandy Dean, Director, Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Britain and Ireland, said: “This campaign is hugely important to Ford and highlights the importance of mental wellbeing alongside physical wellbeing on construction sites. “As the UK’s best-selling commercial vehicle
44
|
S T A N D A R D
M A G A Z I N E
summer 2022
Trained counsellors will be visiting construction sites offering help and advice
