Suicide Prevention Month – September 2023

“In the UK and Ireland, two construction workers take their own lives every working day, and stress, anxiety and depression account for a fifth of all work-related illnesses.” These statistics are concerning, which is why we are shining a light on Suicide Prevention Month.

September marks World Suicide Prevention Month, with September 10th being World Suicide Prevention Day. Working in construction can sometimes be a demanding industry to work in. The job can involve high-pressure environments and physically demanding tasks. By prioritising our mental health and implementing mental health support within our workforce, we can help to support our staff’s wellbeing. We are backing The Lighthouse Club Charity with their initiative to encourage everyone to start a conversation. This can be with a friend, a family member, a colleague or anyone you feel comfortable talking to. At Natta, we aim to create a workplace where our employees can speak to each other about any mental health issues they may be facing, without facing any stigma. This month, we will be sending out a toolbox talk to raise awareness about this important subject. Our Health and Safety Team will also be available to support our site teams.

Warning signs of suicidal behaviour:

• Poor sleep
• A change in appetite, weight gain or loss
• Social withdrawal
• Struggling to communicate
• No desire to take care of yourself
• Low self-esteem
• Urges to self-harm

It can be extremely unsettling when you’re concerned about a person who is experiencing suicidal thoughts. It can be hard to know how to help someone, but there are many ways you can support them:

• Encourage them to talk about their feelings
• Encourage them to seek support or treatment
• Offer emotional support
• Offer practical support
• Help to think of ideas for self-help
• Help them to make a support plan

Resources available to Team Natta 

In 2022, Natta signed up to The Mental Health Charter and also became a supporter of The Lighthouse Club Charity. Since then, we have created a Mental Health Hub for our staff. They can access helpful information and resources to help support their needs. We have rolled out the Construction Industry Helpline App on our staff’s mobile phones. So, if they need to talk to someone confidentially or need help quickly, the aid is there at their fingertips.

Our staff have access to a gym and break out room, which can be used if they want to work out, or simply take a break away from their desks. These provide a great opportunity to get to know people in a relaxed setting, outside of the working environment.

Mental Health Courses

As a business, we are rolling out the Lighthouse Wellbeing Masterclass as well as a number of mental health courses. Our training provider, CISTC, also run Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). These first aid courses include an in-depth understanding of mental health and what factors can affect well-being in a workplace. The course also includes practical skills to recognise the triggers and signs of mental health.

Websites to visit for help or advice

The Lighthouse Club Charity have created a dedicated web page for World Suicide Prevention Month, please click here to view their page – Lighthouse Suicide Prevention

Sources

© Mind. This information is published in full at Mind.org.uk

The Lighthouse Club Charity – Construction Industry Helpline