The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) recently launched a consultation into mental health in construction.
The CLC decided to publish the consultation after mental health was identified as a priority focus area for the construction industry at its Health, Safety and Wellbeing Summit in July this year.
They want to create a working environment within the UK construction industry which fosters better mental health, and this is a key part of their wider Health, Safety and Wellbeing Strategy.
Root causes of poor mental health in consultation
Prior to publishing the consultation, the CLC held a series of focus groups across England, 
working with charity Mates in Mind and the University of Warwick. They asked participants about the primary root causes of poor mental health in construction.
Now, their consultation outlines these root causes and asks industry stakeholders for their views on how they can be eliminated or reduced.
The consultation also focuses on the measures that the sector can take to reduce the likelihood of poor worker mental health in the future. They are inviting responses from industry stakeholders and workers to explore how the construction sector can improve workplace mental health.
‘Systemic change’ needed for mental health in construction
In a press release to mark the launch, the CLC explained:
“The importance of this work is illustrated by the fact the suicide rate in UK construction is four times the national average which is unacceptable.
“Whilst we know there are lots of factors that affect a person’s mental health, with some work related and some not, these are not numbers. They are husbands, wives, dads, mums, children and friends. The time for systemic change is now. We all have a responsibility to our workforce to improve the health and wellbeing of our people.
“Today’s consultation focuses on the measures that the UK construction industry can take to reduce the future likelihood of poor mental health in the sector. We want to hear your views and ambitions for how we can collectively come together to reduce or eliminate the challenges colleagues and friends are experiencing across the sector. Change is needed.”
Consultation ‘vital step’ for mental health in construction
Mark Reynolds, Co-Chair of the CLC, said:
“As leaders in the built environment and construction sector, we have a collective responsibility to our workforce to improve the health, safety and wellbeing of our people.
“By working in partnership and being ambitious, we can drive improvements in mental health across the sector, ensuring a positive working environment for our current and future workforce.
“Today’s consultation is a vital step in that journey, enabling us to bring together the views of industry in this space to inform our public Spring 2026 action plan. I would encourage you to respond and give us your views.”
The consultation was launched on 24th September, ahead of World Mental Health Day on 10th October, and will run until 5th November.
HSE heads up mental health campaigns
As well as supporting and promoting the CLC’s consultation on mental health in construction, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is also working with industry partners on their own nationwide mental health campaign.
Together, the HSE and the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) run the ‘Stop. Make a change’ campaign for mental health awareness in construction.
The campaign encourages construction firms to temporarily cease work in order to focus on improving mental health, safety and wellbeing for all those working in the sector.
Over 500,000 employers and employees have participated since the campaign was first launched in 2017.
The campaign website provides organisations with free toolbox talks on a range of mental health and wellbeing subjects, conversation starter packs and resources for company events. You can also download social media graphics to show public support and help raise awareness.
The HSE also maintains its Working Minds campaign to raise awareness of the importance of preventing work-related stress and supporting good mental health.
Mental health training and support
First Response Training (FRT) is one of the UK’s largest and leading national training providers.
They deliver a wide and diverse range of training for businesses and organisations across all industry sectors and throughout the UK. Their course range includes training in the fields of health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, mental health, food safety, health and social care and more.
An accredited Mindful Employer themselves, FRT’s specialist mental health training courses include Understanding Mental Health, Mental Health Awareness in the Workplace, Managing Stress, Anxiety and Phobias Awareness, Self-Harm Awareness and Suicide Awareness.
They can also provide qualified, approved trainers to deliver accredited Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training courses, including the Adult, Youth and Lite versions.
A trainer from FRT says:
“We believe in creating safer working environments with people who care. This is our vision and central to our services. It means providing training that helps to protect people’s physical and mental health, safety and welfare.
“Work-related stress can lead to more serious mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, and can also have physiological effects.
“It’s important to recognise the severity of stress and to learn proactive and positive ways for managing, minimising and preventing stress, both in the workplace and in our personal lives and to ensure that we regularly undergo essential training in health, safety and welfare across all organisations and industries.”
Helpful resources
A brief summary of our mental health training can now be downloaded as an infographic.
We also have a number of other free infographics available to download which provide simple tips for helping to manage your mental and emotional wellbeing and proactively manage your stress levels. These include:
You can also download our free Guide to Mental Health Training from our website.
For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.