Everyday in the UK, two people in the construction industry die by suicide*, and Solent Mind’s new workplace training course is looking to combat that.

*(https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/stress.pdf )

Our Workplace Wellbeing Training team are launching the ‘Let’s Talk: Building a Conversation’ training course for construction companies and, with the help of Know Thyself Charitable Trust, are offering the first 10 sessions at a discounted price (£200 in comparison to the standard training price of £450).

Mandy Wiltshire, Solent Mind’s Workplace Wellbeing Training Manager, said: “Our Workplace Wellbeing Training sessions are all about ensuring a workplace is doing everything it can to ensure the wellbeing of their employees, and to educate workers on how to look after themselves and their colleagues.

“Providing this specific training to the construction industry, with the help of Know Thyself Charitable Trust, we hope will start building conversations between colleagues as well as between employers and employees. As well as the training, we will be supplying a ‘Building the Conversation’ board and a box of resources to keep on site.”

Barry Tull, long time construction worker with Brymor Construction, shared his story with Solent Mind earlier this year: “In the early 2000’s we were carrying out a large project in Basingstoke that as a lot of construction projects wasn’t going well and the client was being difficult, and it was all getting very unpleasant. After a few months of dealing with the issues it started to affect me in a way that I have never experienced before.

“I didn’t want to go to bed because it meant that I had to go to work when I work up, I would often spend hours curled up in the corner of the settee not really wanting to do anything. My appetite was almost non-existent, and I suffered with what I now know is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Generally, it was not a nice time. Mental health was never really spoken about at the time and nowhere near as open as it is now.

“It came to a peak when we had a progress meeting, afterwards my boss said he would take me out for a sandwich obviously knowing me over many years he knew I wasn’t myself and wanted to talk. Anyway, I burst into tears over a steak sandwich, and it all came out over lunch, and I clearly was not coping.”

Barry would then visit the doctor where he would be diagnosed with anxiety and stress, getting signed off work for what would end up being 4 weeks, which was initially meant to be 2 weeks. Upon his return, he was supported by the company to ensure he was well enough to do so.

“Having the support of work as well as family is very important and made me feel supported. On return to works the company paid for me to have counselling that helped me put things in proportion and understand that it is okay to not be okay - it doesn’t make you any less of a person – I always considered myself a strong person but this experience wiped me out completely.”

If you are interested in finding out more about the ‘Let’s Talk: Building a Conversation’ training by Solent Mind, email training@solentmind.org.uk.

If you have been affected by anything spoken about, give the Solent Mind Support Line a call on 023 8017 9049, their wellbeing advisors can offer bitesize tips and recommend services available to you.