IT’S GOOD TO TALK

There is no greater responsibility placed on a human being than to look after the health and wellbeing of a fellow human being

Working in the scaffolding industry is undoubtedly both challenging and stressful. Long and demanding hours, working away from home on-site for weeks at a time, and fear and anxiety about job security in the industry, particularly following the recent pandemic, are just some of the factors contributing to poor mental health.

In a predominantly male workforce, specific risks associated with male mental health also need to be considered. The ‘tough guy’ image widespread in the scaffolding and construction industry is a big part of the problem. Asking for help and opening up about emotions are just not things that come naturally to many of those working in the industry. The combination of these factors results in many suffering in silence.

Statistics show 30% of workers will experience some form of mental health problem during their working lives. In fact, mental health problems are a leading cause of illness and disability. Construction workers in the scaffolding industry have a 44% higher risk of suicide than in any other trade.

Teaching And Learning Kindness Ltd or TALK, was founded by Sacub Qureshi in 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic to educate and raise awareness of mental health within the scaffolding industry and across the wider construction industry. A scaffolder by trade, Sacub experienced first-hand the devastating effects of mental health when his scaffolding mentor and close friend took his own life after experiencing severe depression, followed by the suicide of another close friend, also a scaffolder.

He was also supported by none-other than Mark ‘Bez’ Berry, one of the stars of the band Happy Mondays. The group’s work bridged the Manchester independent rock music of the 1980s and the emerging UK rave scene, drawing influence from funk, house and psychedelia to pioneer the‘Madchester’ sound. Sacub explained: “I used to work in the Manchester music industry back in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. It’s a small world where everyone in the industry knew each other. Bez is one of my good mates, we used to play a lot of football together. In 1993 my first son, Jacob, was born. I knew I had to get a job that enabled me to support my son so started work as a labourer on a building site.

“Bez is a top lad and he is always willing to support great initiatives. He recently completed a wing walk for a charity called Tonic Music for Mental Health. Barry Ashworth, who is the front man of the Dub Pistols, is a patron and it’s a charity that raises awareness, challenges stigma and promotes recovery through music and the arts.

“So I asked Bez if he would like to be the patron of TALK and help me reach out to scaffolders and construction workers. The rest is history.”

Mark ‘Bez’ Berry, one of the stars of the band Happy Mondays is the Patron of TALK, helping to reach out to scaffolders and construction workers. OPPOSITE: Teaching And Learning Kindness Ltd or TALK founder, Sacub Qureshi.

ASKING FOR HELP AND OPENING UP ABOUT EMOTIONS ARE JUST NOT THINGS THAT COME NATURALLY TO MANY OF THOSE WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY

Over the years Sacub heard many heartbreaking stories from friends and colleagues across the industry, and this drove him to change his career last year from scaffolding instructor to mental health first-aid trainer. He set up his mental health first-aid company, TALK, to focus on training and raising awareness of mental health.

Mental health first aid is all about early intervention and prevention. It gives people the skills to recognise the early warning signs of those struggling with their mental health and reach out and support their colleagues at work. Many people don’t feel comfortable talking about their mental health to the GP, a professional or close family members but a timely conversation with a friend or colleague on-site can avert a crisis occurring that can have very serious repercussions.

Mental health first aiders are not there to diagnose or prescribe medication but to offer support, listen and help signpost to the correct professional help.

There are signs the industry is beginning to take the wellbeing of its employees more seriously. But if we are to create a truly responsible industry caring about the people that work in it, we need to up our game in understanding and supporting people’s mental wellbeing. Mental health first aid is the perfect solution, working at all levels from company directors, managers, supervisors and skilled workers to trainees.

If you think this is something you would like to have in your company or are interested in understanding more about mental health, contact Sacub Qureshi on 07760 214321, sq@teachingandlearningkindness.co.uk or visit his website www.teachingandlearningkindness.co.uk