Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) celebrates the power of community as a means of improving personal wellbeing. Hence, this year’s programme, which takes place from May 12th to 18th, provides a range of expert guidance on how a spirit of togetherness encourages good mental health.

As an established mental health champion, BriggsAmasco is an avid MHAW advocate. The company boasts 36 mental health first aiders and two dedicated mental health first aid instructors, with staff training progressing to increase that figure.

Tony Lawther, Managing Director at BriggsAmasco said instilling a sense of workplace community workplace had benefitted employee wellbeing. “People generally feel more encouraged to discuss their feelings in a more honest and open way with individuals they know and trust,” he said. “This is particularly important for people suffering from stress or a difficult personal issue. In such instances, our mental health first aiders are a vital source of support for colleagues. Their voluntary service is invaluable to upholding employee welfare, which is paramount to BriggsAmasco’s culture.”

Staff and site operative health and safety initiatives, such as the introduction of mental health first aiders, have reduced anxiety and stress-related absenteeism at BriggsAmasco. This outcome is particularly encouraging due to the construction industry’s vulnerability to mental health-related impact. An Office for National Statistics report revealed suicide rates amongst construction workers were 3.7 times higher than the national average. Furthermore, a 2020 Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) survey of 2,000 construction workers found that 97% of respondents had felt stressed, 87% had experienced anxiety and 70% had suffered depression over the previous 12 months.

Outside of the workplace, a report by UK mental health charity MIND showed that one-in-six people admitted suffering a common mental health problem – such as anxiety and depression – in any given week in England, where it’s predicted one-in-four people will experience a mental health problem of some kind annually.

***continued: “Because problematic mental health seldom emits visible signs, it can be difficult to detect. Our staff are trained to look for the signals that suggest someone is suffering on the inside. Then it’s a case of ensuring that individual doesn’t suffer in silence; we let them know that someone who cares is available for them to talk to and listen to them. This encapsulates the value of community in the workplace. Therefore, we are once again proud to support Mental Health Awareness Week.”

For more information on Mental Health Awareness Week and guidance on becoming involved with your community, click here