Head Of Training, The Healthy Work Company

January 26, 2017

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Health summit: “we need to think about health and take action”

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Business leaders unite and pledge to eradicate occupational ill health in construction.

A key theme in the opening remarks of the Health in Construction Leadership Group’s annual health summit, which is taking place today in Mayfair, London, is that while we are making good progress with health “we are not there yet”.

Opening the summit, Chair of the HSE Martin Temple said that 2.2million working days are lost each year through health and safety failings – with 1.8million of those lost to ill health. However in terms of the industry’s focus, health has “lagged behind safety, primarily because it’s more complex”.

“More sickness absence means less people, and less people means less productivity. We can’t afford this.” he continued.

“We all need to recognise the collective responsibility business leaders have to health. It cannot remain the poor relation to safety. We need to think health and take action.

“We mustn’t fall into the trap of recording and monitoring an illness, over preventing it.”

SHP asked Mr Temple how we can get this message over to SMEs:  “We have to use every tool we can – not least of which is the leaders we see today. It starts with the business leaders. They have to walk the talk, and when people see it, they will see the benefits.”

Business leaders pledge their commitment to health

Last year at the health summit, the 150 business leaders who attended made their own pledges to eradicate occupational ill health and disease in the industry and within their own organisations. Asked if they had followed through on these pledges the vast majority said they had done.

Clive Johnson, Chair of the HCLG, spoke about the progress since the summit in 2016, sharing case studies of pledges and how they have been followed through practically, day-to-day on the shop floor.

“We’ve only got one workforce and we have got to look after them” he said “we have a moral obligation to them. If we care about the worker they will have the right attitude, and they’ll help protect themselves”.

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Chair of the HSE, Martin Temple, addresses the room.

Mental health in construction

For the last year the HCLG have had two main focuses, respiratory health and mental health – highlighted by last year’s business leaders as being key areas in which they wanted to focus.

On mental health Lee Rowland, a carpenter by trade, bravely spoke to the room about his own battle with confidence, depression and anxiety – something he said started very small and spiralled over time. As a 14-year-old he saw the first signs of the illness, but he said the symptoms escalated when he joined the workforce, as a result of bullying.

Hiding his feelings was very draining, and as they became more inset he felt like suicide may be a better option. He ended up comfort eating as a way of masking his feelings, but this led to isolation and loneliness.

One day at work, whilst working alone on a 6 storey high building, he started to consider suicide for a second time. But he asked himself “Why do I feel like this?” and this was his first step to recovery.

He then visited his GP who referred him to a therapist and prescribed anti-depressants. Through CBT Lee was able to start to face his fears and realised there were ways to cope with them.

Eventually Lee plucked up the courage to speak to his site manager who offered him the support he needed to move forwards. After a year he was able to come off his medication and now, while he says he still has bad days, he concluded: “depression will always be a part of my life, but it will not define me”.

Speaking to SHP Lee said: “The one thing I would say to anyone worried about their own mental health is talk to someone. It’s the easiest thing to do and can make a real difference. Equally if you think someone else might be struggling just talk to them, about anything. Don’t be worried about talking. Everyone on the tube keeps their heads down. No one is talking.

“If someone asks you if you’re ok, you automatically want to say you are, even when you’re not. It’s ok to be honest”.

When asked how he has gone from someone who struggled with confidence to someone who stood on a stage addressing a room about a very personal issue Lee said “That’s a good question! I don’t know the answer but I think the answer is that therapy has taught me how to talk to people. I just need to talk.”

Mates in Mind

One key part of today’s event is the launch of the industry’s mental health programme Mates in Mind. Explaining how the charity, which aims to be the single initiative for mental health in construction aims to engage 100,000 people in first year, Steve Hails said it would be offering courses at every level of every business in construction.

The charitable programme’s services, which are already being rolled out in five organisations – including Heathrow, Tideway and Wilmot Dixon, include training courses with Mental Health First Aid England, mental health charity Mind and the British Safety Council.

The purpose of Mates in Mind is also to bring the industry together to openly talk and address the stigma associated with mental health.

Speaking to SHP on behalf of the charity Michael Whitmore and Mike Robinson said: “Mates in Mind is a charitable programme that consists of a number of elements, including awareness training, first aid training, and supervisor training, together with the support mechanisms – so that people can get the support they need.

“Mates in Mind aims to get the construction industry talking, it aims to drive through a culture change in mental health with our partnerships with Mind and Mental Health First Aid England.”

A full article about the launch of Mates in Mind, including the details of all the training on offer, plus the full interview with Mike Robinson and Michael Whitmore will be available on SHP online tomorrow (27 January 2017).

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Harold A. Maio
Harold A. Maio
7 years ago

—-address the stigma associated with mental health??

The stigma -you- associated? OK, I am addressing it. Write me.

Nigel Dupree
Nigel Dupree
7 years ago
Reply to  Harold A. Maio

Therein lies the problem as, the majority of work-related wellbeing and health issues are not actually Mental Health problems, in terms of a serious clinical diagnoses of a dangerous pathology but, the consequences of un-mitigated and/or over-exposure to stressors often founded in the individuals ‘well meaning’ survival strategies yet, ineffective “adaptations” to cope, tolerate and persevere regardless of debilitation until the body/mind reaches the point of “adaptation exhaustion” (chronic fatigue) and produces an illness making them sufficiently ill to escape the stressor. Therefore the problem in terms of labeling ‘it’ a Mental Health issue is exacerbated as we are all… Read more »

Nigel Dupree
Nigel Dupree
7 years ago
Reply to  Harold A. Maio

Another problem Mr Maio, Harold – Getting off-screen at least an hour or two before bedtime as 1.18 a.m. when completed my reply to question of stigma. Performance anxiety also tends 2 manifest in poor sleep patterns particularly Sunday night with the potential anxiety of another week on the treadmill or “I hate Monday’s” syndrome and can’t wait for POETS day ! The Japanese have twigged the risks of lost deferential between ‘work-time’ and ‘time for life’ and are looking at ways to deal with the “Karoshi” problem and the French have already enacted their ‘differential’ on 1st of Jan… Read more »

Nigel Dupree
Nigel Dupree
7 years ago

Of course, more wearable tech is on it’s way but, to be able to bioscreen and monitor human resources live knocks Big Brother into a cocked hat……… gonna be so easy to monitor stress levels as they reach WEL.

Dr Chris Tomkins, Head of Proactive Health, AXA PPP healthcare, said: “The increased use of health tech within the workplace could so easily be a win-win for both employer and employee.

“For the first time it is possible to support an individual throughout their journey from better understanding of their health to actual improvements through smart digital platforms.

https://www.shponline.co.uk/49131-2/#comment-163961