MENTAL HEALTH MOMENT
WHY I BECAME A MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AIDER Jack Berry, HSQE advisor There are posters around the workplace with photos of all the mental health first aiders, and I think this provides reassurance if someone is struggling. I’ve had third hand experience of someone affected by mental health issues who lost their life to suicide.
Construction has made clear strides in raising awareness around mental health, yet the rising number of suicides is an alarm call that more still needs to be done. According to data from the Office for National Statistics, workers in construction in England and Wales are now nearly four times more likely to take their own lives than in other sectors. As a male-dominated industry, research shows there remains a strong reluctance to talk about mental health problems which poses a major challenge in an industry employing over 1.1 million men — around 85% of the total workforce , according to data from The Association for Project Safety (APS). High profile campaigns like the Lighthouse Club and Mates In Mind’s ‘Make It Visible’ initiative are among those aiming to promote culture change in an effort to reduce stigma, break down barriers, and increase awareness of support services. World Suicide Prevention Day on 10th September is an opportunity to start a conversation on mental health and it is essential that we all play our part in looking out for each other and encouraging others to speak up. As company supporters of The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, we encourage people to access their resources which are available to construction workers and their families. They offer a free, confidential helpline: 0345 605 195 . Visit www.lighthouseclub.org for more information.
This was after I had done the training and there were no signs, so it has made me think even more about what people might be going through, the private issues they may be dealing with, and to be more mindful of this in my everyday interactions. Mental health issues are rising among young people due to the impact of social media and mobile phones being
used by younger age groups, and MHFA training will have an increasingly valuable role to play in the future. Georgia Moss, Street lighting business administration apprentice It’s becoming increasingly significant, especially within the workplace, to understand our mental health as it plays a huge factor in our everyday lives. From the training, I have gained a deepened understanding of possible signs someone may be struggling with their mental health. This is incredibly beneficial to know, as not everyone is comfortable talking about their problems, so if there is the opportunity to help another in need, I would love to help in any way I can.
At Aptus we have more than thirty Mental Health First Aiders, who are there to help our colleagues across all areas of the business. Here, five of our trainers share more about their roles.
12 APTUS CONNECTIONS // ISSUE 14
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