Launch of the Building Mental Health Alliance

The Building Mental Health Alliance (BMHA), a body consisting of a collaboration of industry bodies, large contractors and other workplace health and safety organisations from across Northern Ireland (including ourselves) was officially launched at an event marking World Mental Health Day on 10^th October at CITB NI.

The BMHA will work together with the aim to create better mental health awareness, support and training for everyone working within the NI Built Environment sector.

Mental ill health within the construction industry is a growing issue

Statistics from the construction mental health charity Mates In Mind(1) show that two people working in construction in the UK die by suicide everyday and that suicide rates among construction workers are more than three times higher than the national average.

As part of the launch BMHA announced some of its first outputs including:

The Construction Skills Register (CSR) will now include a mental health module in the basic health and safety training delivered to approximately 20,000 construction workers a year in Northern Ireland. The module will highlight signs of mental ill health to look out for and signpost candidates to some of the organisations and charities that provide help and advice locally.

A toolbox talk that can be delivered on sites. This aims to raise awareness at site level of the issues that could be impacting those working on the site and how they can get help.

An awareness video that demonstrates to construction workers the importance of looking out for their colleagues and that support exists for those experiencing mental ill health.

Siobhan O’Neill, Northern Ireland Mental Health Champion, who presented at the event commented,

“It’s clear that employment in the construction industry is associated with a particular set of challenges that can impact on workers’ mental health. It’s heartening to see such a wide range of representatives coming together to start to tackle this issue. By creating a culture of openness and breaking down the stigma that surrounds mental health issues, individuals will feel more comfortable when raising any issues affecting their mental health and disclosing mental health difficulties.”

BMHA was keen to raise awareness of the fantastic work of the charities that provide mental health guidance and support in Northern Ireland.

These eleven organisations (below) exhibited at the launch to highlight the services they provide.