Construction remains one of the UK’s highest-risk sectors for mental health, with suicide rates still among the worst of any industry. Behind every statistic is a person, a family and a workplace affected. Supporting wellbeing is one of the most important things we can do for our workforce.

Many workers are quietly dealing with stress, burnout, financial worries, fatigue or personal struggles they do not feel able to share. Construction also continues to face one of the highest suicide rates of any UK industry. Wellbeing is not optional. It is essential.

A message worth watching

We previously created a short video with the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity as part of the Make It Visible campaign. It highlights the reality many workers face and why raising awareness is so important.

Watch the video:
https://essentialsiteskills.co.uk/blog/post/makeitvisible-lighthouse-charity

The Lighthouse Charity Wellbeing Academy is an outstanding support resource for our sector. They offer a wide range of free tutor-led online courses created specifically for people working in construction. These sessions provide practical and confidential support for anyone who needs it whether they are on site, in a depot, in an office or running a business.

Most of their training is completely free, and many of their accredited courses are free for Company Supporters. The variety and accessibility of this programme makes it one of the most valuable wellbeing resources available to the construction workforce.

What Free Courses Are Available

The Lighthouse Wellbeing Academy provides three main categories of training. Each one focuses on accessible learning that helps workers build practical skills, awareness and confidence.

Self-Paced eLearning

These online modules can be completed in your own time and award bronze, silver or gold certificates. They are free for everyone working in construction.

The current eLearning courses include:

• Bang on Budget
• Banter vs Bullying
• Building Resilience
• Controlling Credit
• Managing Stress
• Mindfulness
• Resolving Conflict
• Self Care
• Tackling Debt
• Taking Control: Drugs and Alcohol
• Understanding Anxiety
• Work Life Balance

These modules allow workers to build practical skills and knowledge at their own pace without the pressure of scheduled sessions.

Lighthouse Wellbeing Exclusives

These are tutor-led online sessions that support mental health, wellbeing and positive workplace culture. Many are free for everyone. A small number are paid but free for Company Supporters.

Free for everyone:

• Imposter Syndrome (2 hours)
• Menopause Awareness (1 hour)
• Menopause Leadership and Management (2 hours)
• Neurodiversity Awareness (1.5 hours)
• Nutrition for Productivity (1.5 hours)
• Suicide Awareness (2.5 hours)
• Understanding Andropause (1.5 hours)
• MHFA Peer Support (1 hour)

Paid courses that are free for Company Supporters:

• Managing Mental Health in the Workplace (6 hours)

Mental Health First Aid Courses (MHFA Accredited)

These accredited courses award official MHFA England certification. They involve more in-depth training and are ideal for those supporting others in the workplace.

These courses are paid unless your organisation is a Lighthouse Company Supporter, in which case they are completely free.

Free for Company Supporters:

• Mental Health Awareness (4 hour accredited course)
• Mental Health First Aider (two day accredited course delivered online)
• Mental Health First Aider Refresher (4 hour course)

These courses equip people with the skills to identify, understand and support someone who may be experiencing a mental health issue.

Support for the Industry’s Wellbeing Champions and MHFAs

The Lighthouse Charity also provides free support for Mental Health First Aiders and voluntary Wellbeing Champions working across the industry. This ongoing support helps protect their own wellbeing and ensures they have timely access to expert help when needed.

Why These Courses Matter for Our Industry

Construction workers face pressures that differ from many other sectors. These include long commutes, physically demanding work, unpredictable hours, job insecurity and separation from home and family. There can also be a long-standing culture of staying quiet and getting on with it which makes it even harder for people to ask for help.

• Free wellbeing courses can:
• Help workers recognise early signs of stress
• Equip teams to support colleagues who may be struggling
• Reduce burnout and presenteeism
• Improve communication and teamwork
• Encourage healthier and more open site cultures

Resources like these genuinely make a difference and can even save lives.

Why ESS Is Sharing This Initiative

At Essential Site Skills, we support thousands of construction workers every year. We see the real pressures that people face and the importance of having the right support available at the right time.

Although ESS delivers a wide range of accredited courses linked to wellbeing and safety, the Lighthouse Charity sessions offer something unique. They are free, accessible and open to every single person working in construction. For many workers, that first online session may be the moment they reach out for support.

If you are a manager, supervisor or business owner, sharing these resources with your teams could make a real impact. You never know who might be quietly struggling.

Let’s Look After Each Other

These free Lighthouse wellbeing resources are available to every person working in construction. Share them with your teams, colleagues and networks. You never know who might need them, and the right support at the right moment can change a life.

View the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity Wellbeing Academy

Small actions like sharing these resources can make a big difference to someone’s life.