Mental Health First Aid Training at the Fore of Construction

Mental Health First Aid Training at the Fore of Construction

With recent news that CITB have committed £500,000 for training 156 construction workers as mental health first aiders, and the HSE reporting that in 2016/17 over 500,000 workers reported work-related stress, depression or anxiety as a condition directly related to their work, it is no wonder that mental health first aid training is at the forefront of the construction sector.

Work-related stress, anxiety or depression accounts for over 12 million working days lost each year (a figure that has grown in recent years with the added financial and political events that have impacted the construction sector of late). As more workers find themselves struggling to cope, the need for expanded mental health first aid training is fast becoming essential. It has been estimated that an additional 40,000 mental health first aiders are required as a minimum to cover the construction industry alone.

Whilst traditional first aid courses do stress and mental health to a degree, specific mental health first aid training focuses in on the core levels of identifying and working with individuals who are suffering from workplace related stress, anxiety or depression. These courses do not only apply to the construction sector but all industries. It must be noted that specific mental health first aid courses do not teach delegates how to treat or diagnose specific mental health conditions, but rather how to offer support until appropriate professional help has been sought or until the situation has resolved.

Mental health first aiders who have passed a Mental Health First Aid course will be qualified to:

- Have an in-depth understanding of mental health
- How mental health can be affected
- Practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of a person suffering with a mental health problem
- Confidence to step in and reassure/support said person
- Skills to listen without applying judgement
- Help someone recover their mental health by guiding them to further appropriate support.

This can include self-help resources, their employer, the NHS, or a combination of all.
Please visit our website to find out further about the mental health first aid courses we offer, including Adult Mental Health First Aid, Introduction to Mental Health in the Workplace and Managing Mental Health in the Workplace.

It is also important for workers to support each other, even if they have not taken a specific mental health first aid course. If you feel someone you work with may be struggling, take the time to try and talk to them and help. Stats revealedby HSE for 2016/17 show that Workload is the biggest cause of workplace stress, accounting for 44% of all mental health issues reported, followed by Lack of Support, Workplace Bullying and Changes at Work.