Ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week, we take a look at this year’s theme and how BW has been working in this area over the past few years.
Mental health awareness is crucial in all industries, including construction and statistics show that 1 in 4 people will be affected by a mental health problem in their lifetime.
The built environment can be a stressful sector in terms of the deadlines and responsibilities involved and in 2023, there can be various pressures outside of working hours from family commitment to the ongoing cost of living crisis and worries concerning climate change that can contribute to poor mental health.
The theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (15-21 May 2023) is ‘anxiety’ which again can be connected to a job, as well as a relationship, how we feel about ourselves or a change or our life.
The Mental Health Foundation has several tips to tackle anxiety including focussing on your breathing, incorporating exercise and movement into your life, keeping a diary to record your feelings, and getting the right support. Spending time in nature has a proven positive effect on our mental health with other suggestions to reduce anxiety including connecting with people and talking about your feelings, trying to get some quality sleep and eating a healthy diet.
Mental Health Awareness Week is an opportunity for individuals and organisations such as employers to recognise these feelings and develop coping strategies. BW has been working with mental health charity Rethink since 2015 to prioritise the health and wellbeing of our staff.
BW will continue to raise awareness of mental health both on our sites and in the office during Mental Health Awareness Week to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage employees to seek help when they need it. This helps to create a safer and more supportive working environment for everyone in the construction industry.