At Holloway Cook we aim to promote positive mental health wellbeing for every employee. We do this by promoting positive mental health for all staff, recognising and addressing sources of stress in the workplace, supporting those staff who are experiencing poor mental health and reducing stigma.
Our Office Manager Vicky has recently completed a course with Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA) to become a Mental Health First Aider in the workplace.
Mental Health First Aiders are essential to maintaining employee well-being.
The construction sector has a particularly acute issue with mental health:
Men in the UK are three times more likely to die by suicide than women. However, in construction - a typically male dominated industry - men are three times more likely to die by suicide than the national average for men. Suicide is now killing more people than falls within construction.
Two people working in construction in the UK die by suicide every day. Over 700 per year.
48% have taken time off work, owing to unmanageable stress.
91% have felt overwhelmed and 26% have expressed suicidal thoughts.
It is important we recognise how vital mental health awareness and support is.
Vicky is now part of a community of over 5 million people worldwide who are trained to recognise mental ill health and help people find the support and assistance they need.
Holloway Cook have named 3rd February as mental health day for the company. Our staff will meet in the morning for breakfast and a catch up and are encouraged to discuss mental health to tackle the stigma. They will be reminded of support services they can access before being given the afternoon off for some free time to relax, practice self-care and reflect upon their mental health.