The second annual Health in Construction Leadership Group (HCLG) summit was held in London on Thursday, 26 January.
With the first inaugural event in January last year focusing on respiratory disease, this years summit aimed to reflect on progress to date on tackling mental health, as well as to bring a focus to the growing issue within the industry.
The Mates in Mind programme has now been launched, with the support of the British Safety Council, to raise awareness and understanding of poor mental health in the construction sector. It brings the industry together to openly talk and address the stigma associated with mental health through employer support and sharing of information.
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With one in four people experiencing a mental health issue in their lifetime, the Centre for Mental Health estimates that 91 million working days are lost each year, equivalent to employers losing around £26 billion.
In partnership with the launch of Mates in Mind, workshops were organised for delegates to further build on the lessons learnt in 2016 on respiratory diseases, designing out health issues from construction and how to appropriately approach mental health in the workplace.
The event was widely supported by industry bodies such as British Occupational Hygiene Society, The British Safety Council, Build UK, Construction Industry Training Board, the Health and Safety Executive, International Institute of Risk and Safety Management and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.
Clive Johnson, one of the founding members and chair of the HCLG and Group Head of Health, Safety and Security at Land Securities, said: "With suicide causing ten times more deaths than accidents on sites, it is imperative that the industry is truly aware of the deeply impactful consequences of unaddressed mental health issues.
"In raising this issue today with over 300 industry leaders, we have set the foundations to addressing mental health openly, confidently and honestly within the construction industry; not just by 'starting the conversation' but by providing delegates with the skills and knowledge to go back into their workplace and address this issue head on."
(LM)
