The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has brought new partners on board to its Working Minds campaign to help protect trades’ mental health.
Britain’s health and safety watchdog offers free online learning, support and resources through its Working Minds campaign, which aims to help employers prevent stress and support good mental health among their workers.
They have recently introduced new bitesize learning, which provides information about what the law requires of employers when it comes to mental health and wellbeing. It takes no more than an hour to complete and helps organisations see how they can make supporting and promoting positive mental health a routine part of working life and culture.
Construction industry steps up to protect trades’ mental health
The HSE has welcomed the following organisations to the Working Minds mental health campaign this month:
- Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA)
- Contract Flooring Association (CFA)
- Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE)
- Electrical Contractor’s Association (ECA)
- National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC)
- National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC)
Taken from across the construction industry, it is hoped the new partners can help HSE to safeguard trades’ mental health and wellbeing.
The watchdog states on the campaign website:
“According to Mates in Mind, workplace stress is being felt like never before within small, micro and sole trader businesses. The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity report that the highest number of calls to their helpline were from labourers and finishing trades.”
They also explain:
“No matter the size of the business, the law requires all employers to prevent work related stress to support good mental health. That means making sure that risks of stress and mental ill–health are factored into health and safety risk assessments at an organisational level and acted upon.
“Failing to manage stress at work can cost employers in reduced productivity, sickness absence, or even losing a valued member of the team.”
Free tools to support trades’ mental health
The HSE urges people who are struggling, or who know someone who needs help or support, to “reach out and ask how they are feeling and coping.”
Their campaign focuses on breaking down taboos and opening up conversations about mental health across all industry sectors.
The Working Minds website offers employers and employees lots of free tools and support, online learning, templates and details of helplines to help support trades’ mental health.
Liz Goodwill, head of work-related stress and mental health policy at HSE, said:
“We know that running a business in construction can be stressful with long hours, juggling intense workloads.
“We are delighted the Working Minds campaign is welcoming even more partners and they will no doubt help us in our efforts to raise awareness of ways employers across Britain’s construction trades can help prevent and reduce work-related stress.
“The law requires all employers – whether you’re a demolition firm or scaffolding business – to carry out a stress risk assessment and act upon the findings. The online learning shares all the tools you need to get started in one place, and you can come back as many times as you like.”
Training to support mental health at work
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.
“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.