BUSINESS SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH
BREAK SILENCE THE “I never thought it would happen to me,” says David Gutierrez, Director of Nest Building Group Ltd in Tadworth. “You’re wearing loads of different hats,” he continues. In the construction industry – known for its toughness, long hours, and
“There’s a lot of stigma around mental health in the industry,” Bolton says. “There’s a predisposition for men to feel like they can’t show weakness, like they always have to be the strong ones. But speaking about it isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength.” People working in the industry need to hear this message. By now, most will be familiar with the shocking statistic that, on average, every day, two construction workers commit suicide. Gutierrez shares a tragic memory of a bricklayer he followed online. “Fantastic at his craft, big personality – you’d never have guessed he was suicidal, but then I found out he’d taken his own life. That really hit me. It can happen to anyone.” The Lighthouse Charity, which is the FMB’s official charity partner, is working to protect the mental health of construction workers by offering a comprehensive range of services for those in the sector – as well
“You’re always trying to make sure your staff are okay, but directors forget about themselves massively.” Gutierrez describes how stress built up over two years, even as his business was thriving on the surface. “The business was actually at the top of the mountain. On paper, everything looked great. But I was cracking inside. I’d wake up and feel sick, scared. I didn’t want to get out of bed.” For many in the industry, this story is all too familiar. Sarah Bolton, Chief Executive Officer of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, says the issue is cultural and systemic.
high-pressure environment – mental health has often been the unspoken subject, but that’s starting to change
24 Master Builder
www.fmb.org.uk
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