Monitoring Your Own Construction Project but What About Yourself?

26^th April 2023

If your mortar was failing or the scaffolding was falling down you’d change it, but what about looking after yourself? Mental health problems can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race or social background or career. As we continue our building and refurbishment project in Chesterfield of the former Register Office to become our new home for talking therapies, it was interesting to see some statistics from the Band of Builders which showed the suicide rate within the UK construction sector rose for the fifth year running. Their figures showed that 33.82 per 100,000 took their own lives in 2021 up from 25.52 per 100,000 in 2015.

Janette Smeeton, chief executive at DRCS, the largest provider of counselling services in Derbyshire, looks at this sector and mental health, and how DRCS can help. "Mental health and well-being are high priorities for many organisations across all industries. This was true before COVID-19, however, is even more so now. Growing mental health concerns also exist in the construction industry, as these suicide rates show."

Janette goes on to state "Research shows that up to 90% of people who die by suicide have a mental health condition. Depression is the most common, however other conditions may impact suicide rates including substance use disorders — most commonly alcohol misuse, anxiety, and trauma. When it comes to mental health conditions, the best outcomes occur when people seek and connect with care early."

Multiple factors likely contribute to higher suicide rates and mental health concerns in the construction industry, including the following:

• Male dominated industry, with men experiencing the highest suicide rates
• Toughness and strength are valued, mental health conditions, or seeking help, may be seen as personal weakness
• Stigma and fear of consequences associated with mental health issues and help seeking
• Shame and fear of judgment
• Chronic pain
• Seasonal and cyclical work contributing to family and financial strain
• High stress and deadline driven work
• Limited job control
• Long work hours including potential for large volume of overtime leading to fatigue
• Separation of family when working away from home

The most common mental health problem is depression, which one in five members of the public will experience at some point during their lives. Janette added: "There are big differences between just feeling down and clinical depression. When the latter develops, the person can be affected most of the time, frequently for a number of weeks or months. Symptoms can include tiredness, restlessness, low mood, falling energy levels, poor concentration, a lack of interest in things that would normally give pleasure and suicidal thoughts."

Janete also added "Physical symptoms such as aches or pains may also occur. Nonetheless, it is very treatable, and most people will make a full recovery by accessing the right support. Talking to a professional is a way to take back control, establish healthier ways of thinking and devise coping mechanisms. Taking that first step should never be considered a moment of weakness - instead, it shows true strength of character."

What services does DRCS offer?

• DRCS offers a wide range of talking therapies to support and enable those to improve their wellness and well-being - via confidential face to face and online services
• DRCS works with Derbyshire Healthcare Foundation Trust to deliver 'NHS Talking Therapies' to anyone who either self refers or who is referred by their GP to the service

For further information contact DRCS on 0800 047 6861 or email admin@drcs.org.uk

#DRCS #CounsellingServices #Derbyshire

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