Construction sites have always been potentially, physically hazardous places to work. The general strategy for dealing with these high-pressure working environments is mandatory health and safety training to ensure that everyone who works on site is aware of the risks and individuals know how to work safely. The Health and Safety at work Act 1974 (HSE) is the primary piece of legislation covering occupational health and safety in Great Britain. Full details can be found on legislation.gov.uk.

Organisations must do whatever is reasonably practicable to achieve a health and safety culture. It is not simply preventing people from workplace accidents it is also about organisations working towards creating safe, non-judgemental environments, where it becomes second nature to talk about mental health issues through the support of mental health first aid champions within the business.

Most businesses think nothing of investing in preventative maintenance programmes in-order to keep their equipment running smoothly, using training programmes to monitor employees in all elements of equipment handing and production safety. However, we need to remember business performance and productivity are interlinked with workplace cultures that are developed around mentally healthy people who are motivated.

So, isn’t it time to start viewing mental health and wellbeing support in the workplace differently?

Every construction business should be proactive in providing a mental health first aider with the appropriate training to help others.  The appointment of a mental health champion into the workplace will proving support and education on mental health problems, challenge mental health stigma and provide peer support for all employees.

It is thought that 1 in 4 people will encounter a mental health difficulty at some point in our working lives so there is a real need to equip employees who wish to be wellbeing, first aid champions with the appropriate training to help them support and mentor colleagues through challenging times.  

Who should be a wellbeing, mental health first aid champion?

There are six main skills needed to be an effective Wellbeing Mental Health Champion: 

• Understanding 
• Enhanced people skills including non-judgment listening
• Self-help resources, able to move everyone towards a better work-life-balance 
• Confidentiality and safeguarding  
• Knowledge to help someone recover their wellbeing by guiding them to further support 
• Authenticity   

Essential Site Skills are course providers for, ‘Mental Health First Aid Champion (MHFA)’

By giving your teams the opportunity to work together to promote positive mental health and wellbeing within their communities and construction environments, you develop mentally healthy people who have the resilience to cope with normal stresses and adverse events while maintaining a positive and realistic sense of self.

The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course is an internationally recognised training course which teaches people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and provides the knowledge to be able to help on first aid basis.

The MHFA England training will not teach your employees to be therapists, but just like physical first aid, it does teach people to listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis.     

Remember, everyone’s mental health can fluctuate as changes to everyday life takes its course.

When we create workplace cultures where people can be themselves, it is easier for people to talk about wellness and mental health concerns without fear making it easier to reach out for help.

Take steps to develop a wellbeing, health, and safety network into your organisation.

Book your team members onto the following courses: 

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)

Adult Mental Health Awareness (MHFA)

Mental Heal First aid Champion (MHFA)

Emergency First Aid at Work

First Aid at Work

Casualty Packaging – Working from Height  

Working at Height Rescue Training

All MHFA England courses are delivered by quality assured instructor member who has the instructor training programme accredited by the Royal Society for Public Health and is trained to keep people safe and supported while they learn.

All Essential Site skills upcoming public courses can be viewed by month and year online https://essentialsiteskills.co.uk/training-calendar  you can book direct online, or you can contact one of our expert training advisors direct: 0115 8970 529 they will assist you find an alternative training location or date, or create bespoke training for your organisation. 

Construction training is key to securing a talent pipeline. For further information about Essential Site Skills, our Training Calendar, Courses and NVQs, Apprenticeships, Funding and Grants, E-Learning, Products and Services and more, view online https://essentialsiteskills.co.uk/   

For all other enquiries please call Head Office: 0115 897 0529  essentialsiteskills.co.uk