The Men's Mind Toolbox Talks
Breaking the Stigma Surrounding Men’s Mental Health
Over the years health and safety on construction sites has vastly improved and rightly so. But one thing that has lagged behind is site workers’ mental health and wellbeing. Mental health issues have now reached a critical point in that a construction worker is far more likely to take their own life than they are to have a fall from height – with 2 construction workers taking their own life every day.
We have to educate everyone in the industry to recognise the signs and symptoms of colleagues suffering from stress, anxiety or depression and start the conversation to assist in their recovery.
A major study by Mindwise was that if individuals want to talk about mental health, they often don’t know how. A national study found that 60% of employees who experience mental health issues have never spoken about it to anyone at work.
The study also showed that employees want to be able to communicate more openly about behavioural health in an accepting culture, receive training, and get clear information about where to go for support.
Construction sites are male-dominated environments and have become places mental health problems are seen as a sign of weakness and therefore never spoken about.
At The Men’s Mind Project, we are actively involved in breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health. Our talks are delivered from first-hand experience of mental health and the talks are delivered by people who have worked on construction sites.
Our toolbox talks cover:
