MENTAL HEALTH
L-R: Barry Neilson (Chief Executive CITBNI), Gavin McGuire (Northern Ireland Director, FMB), Siobhan O’Neill (Mental Health Champion for Northern Ireland), Wilson Lambe (Chair of Building Mental Health Alliance), Paul Johnston (Chair of NICG) and Mark Spence (Managing Director, CEFNI).
BUILDING MENTAL HEALTH ALLIANCE AIMS TO SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH IN NI CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY… Building an alliance to support mental health in construction sector
B uilding Mental Health Alliance (BMHA), a body consisting of a collaboration of industry bodies, large contractors and other workplace health and safety organisations from across Northern Ireland was officially launched at an event marking World Mental Health Day (October 10) at CITB NI. The BMHA will work together with the aim to create better mental health awareness, support and training for everyone working within the NI Built Environment sector. Mental ill health within the construction industry is a growing issue. Statistics from the construction mental health charity Mates In Mind show that two people working in construction in the UK die by suicide every day and that suicide rates among construction workers are more
than three times higher than the national average. With a focus on supporting with a culture of openness, BMHA’s objectives are to: • Create a working environment that aids good mental health for all. • Promote better awareness of mental health issues. • Support/promote sector specific initiatives aiming to improve awareness and acceptance of issues around mental health. • Support/promote initiatives that provide meaningful support and guidance to individuals. FIRST STEPS As part of the launch BMHA announced some of its first outputs including: • The Construction Skills Register (CSR) will now include a mental health module
Siobhan O’Neill (Mental Health Champion for Northern Ireland).
Noel Brady (Chair of CITBNI) chatting to exhibitors.
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