It’s Mental Health Awareness Week this week, so we’re taking at some of the issues that make working in the skilled trades challenging at times, and where you can get help if you need it.
If you’re having mental health struggles, you’re not alone….
One in six people across the UK find themselves at the mercy of mental health problems such as stress, anxiety or depression at some time in their lives. The first thing to recognise is that mental health issues are very common.
One of the biggest challenges is that many people – as much as one in five of us – fear that disclosing our problems will negatively affect our job and reputation. This is often a particular fear in male-dominated environments such as the trades, where people are expected to ‘man up’ and disclosure is often (wrongly) seen as a weakness.
Suicide rates in the construction industry are 3.7 times the national average – ONS figures for 2021 showed that 507 construction workers took their lives – in our industry more people die from suicide than falls, a shocking statistic.
Why is mental health poor in the trades?
Those working in the trades are often self-employed, juggling too much work, or worrying about not having enough. Finding jobs, insurance, preparing estimates, bookings, invoicing, ordering materials, chasing payments, keeping accounts, VAT, and dealing with complaints can seem like an endless list, and that’s before they start on the work they’re trained and paid to do!
Another common problem is that those working as building services engineers can find themselves working away from home, for long periods of time, which can lead to loneliness and strained relationships with family and friends.
Skilled trades workers often work long days and don’t take much time off. A survey from boiler manufacturers Glow Work a few years back showed that the average amount of holiday heating engineers took off a year was just 18 days. That’s against a national average of 28. Fear of losing income and juggling a busy workload were reasons engineers gave for not giving themselves more time off. Post COVID, it’s hard to believe that things are any better.
A problem shared….
It’s easy to see why work can feel overwhelming at times, which makes it all the more important to take time off and to spend regular time with family and friends, in order to stop stress and depression getting the better of you. It’s also really important to reach out to others if you need support. A trusted friend of family member for a start, but there are other options – organisations and charities that are there for support.
An article in Construction News last Autumn states that there have been moves within the industry to tackle the problems associated with the stigma of mental health and the Prince of Wales headed up a campaign last year to raise awareness of mental health in the industry.
Prince William visited Mates in Mind, which has worked closely with hundreds of construction companies over the last few years to promote a holistic approach to improving mental health. There’s also the construction industry charity Lighthouse, which provides emotional well-being support to the construction community and their families across the UK.
If you find yourself feeling low and needing some support, remember there are people out there who can help lessen the load. At Logic4training, we have qualified mental health first aiders that are there for you, should you need to support during your time with us.
Don’t suffer in silence.
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