“You’re supposed to be able to handle things. You are in high-pressure situations so you are convinced you should be able to handle those situations yourself, so it is hard to get help – it is admitting you have a weakness.”
This is how GB Olympic medallist Tasha Danvers describes her experience in elite sport in a report conducted by mental health charity Mind.
She has battled with depression and attempted to take her own life in 2011.
Her description of the crippling pressures sportsmen and women face and the lack of open conversation around these challenges is strikingly similar to the nature of the construction industry.
Early morning starts, constant demands to deliver, fear of judgement if you admit you can’t cope with the stress anymore: both elite athletes and construction workers face comparable issues.
Mace head of health and safety for construction Martin Coyd outlined the links between the two at an event I attended this week.
“People who work in our industry are exactly the same as athletes,” he said. “We have to work hard. We sleep, we eat, we prepare. We have to hit our gold medal – which is delivering a project.”
He also said mental health is not talked about in sport or construction – and the effects of this on the latter have been highlighted by both Construction News and new research released today.
In a report conducted by recruitment firm and HR services provider Randstad, it was revealed that 23 per cent of construction workers are considering leaving the industry within the next year. Unsurprisingly, high levels of stress and challenges in striking a work/life balance were among the reasons cited.
However, the need to retain our workforce is paramount – now more than ever.
Earlier this week, industry leaders voiced their concerns after a leaked Home Office report outlined plans to reduce immigration in low-skilled roles after the UK leaves the European Union.
The bottom line is: the industry cannot afford to lose good workers to mental health problems as it battles ongoing recruitment challenges. It’s essential to recognise that a combination of high pressure and low margins can create a perfect storm for these problems to develop.
However, the industry is doing good work to tackle the issue.
The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity and the Considerate Constructors Scheme have launched helpline cards for the industry’s workforce who are struggling with mental health issues.
And Mates in Mind, a programme that aims to raise the profile of mental health in the industry, is being rolled out officially next week after a successful pilot scheme.
But as Mr Coyd said to me, it is essential for the industry to work together to really make progress.
“We need to understand and recognise what we’re all doing as an industry,” he said. “We’re doing good work and we can make a huge difference with some small steps.”
