Mark's story: How lonely construction can be

The construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates among professions. According to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), workers in construction are now nearly four times more likely to die by suicide than in any other sector.

Mark Whitehead, a Construction Director for CPAC, shared with us the importance of leadership and mentorship in looking after your mental health, within the construction industry.

Why Movember

We got involved with Movember, because we were looking at a few different things to bring awareness to mental health within the company. We decided to do Movember as we thought it could be good fun and a way to raise a few quid. More and more people joined in as Movember went along and it ended up being brilliant!

Tackling the issue

I’ve seen a few guys I work with die by suicide, so I knew this was a big issue that we need to tackle in the industry. People don’t realise how lonely construction can be at times. Out on the site and all that pressure on you to get a job done, there’s no support for you to talk to someone and say "I need some help".

I think it’s important for management to take some responsibility to look after their staff in this way. I think mentors can be really important and to have somebody to reach out to is essential.

I also think it’s important to remember to explain to the guys that the world won’t end if something isn’t built and to relieve them of that pressure. It’s important to get perspective on the work we’re doing.

Project Managers

If there’s a problem on site, it usually all goes to the Project Manager so there can be a huge amount of pressure on them. What I’m trying to do within CPAC is to create a support system that makes sure there is always someone to turn to.

Needing resources

We also have to realise our boundaries as management and know that we’re not professionals either so another thing we implemented was the EAP (employee assistance program). This is a system whereby staff can access free counselling sessions. So far it’s in its infancy but hopefully, over time, the service will be used more often and developed.

Find your balance

When I was a project manager years ago, support from my wife helped me a lot. I also feel like playing rugby and coaching helped my mental health. Sport definitely helped if I was having a tough time. Some of the guys don’t have a work / life balance at all. They live for construction, so I try and encourage them to have a life outside of work.

Your behaviour effects everyone

Your mental health can affect everyone around you, not just in work. If you have a good positive day and go home, things are better for everyone. But also to remember you are allowed to say I need half an hour to decompress. It’s important to have some self-awareness around how your behaviour affects everyone else.

Building better systems designed for men

There is a huge amount to be done in terms of changing attitudes towards mental health support in the industry. At CPAC, we are always looking for ways to raise awareness and improve our understanding. The key thing is it’s all about how we can be creative about things and build better systems specifically designed for men. There's a lot more to be done but we’re getting there.