Promoting work’s positive impact on mental health
BLUEPRINT FOR BETTER MENTAL HEALTH IN THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
HOW CAN YOU REDUCE THE HARMFUL IMPACT OF WORK ON MENTAL HEALTH ON SITE?
POLICY & PLANNING
Maintaining good communication throughout a project will ensure that workers are informed about progress and can feel engaged in the project well beyond their individual tasks. Promoting a collaborative and positive workplace culture where possible, is vital for improving mental health on site.
SUPERVISORY STAFF
A collaborative rather than hierarchical structure can be helpful to the organisation of work. Team-based approaches can have a positive impact particularly across trade groups around tasks and outcomes.
PURPOSE OF WORK
Where possible, workers should be encouraged to focus on the social value of the project. In any creative industry, job satisfaction can be obtained by considering the benefit of the final project, and the building and construction industry can offer its workers this same satisfaction.
TEAM BUILDING
Working with peer support networks can help to build teams and social cohesion around a purpose. For example, participating in public campaigns or fundraising at work can build a more positive, cohesive work environment.
SURVEYING
Encouraging active and engaged conversation can help staff take on board suggestions and improvements. Using a mental health or satisfaction index over the life of a project can also highlight the good periods, as well as the testing periods, during a project which can inform future management.
THE PROMOTION OF WORK’S POSITIVE IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH
Being employed is generally associated with better mental health than being unemployed. Employment can have positive effects on people’s mental health by promoting a sense of identity and achievement, offering a source of self-esteem while also facilitating social contact.
Employers can engage procedures to further increase the positive aspects of work, including keeping workers informed, providing social engagement through site events and acknowledging milestones, and providing wellbeing activities that encourage overall health.
Developing a team-based approach can also help increase the positive aspects of working on site. Fostering teamwork across trades on a worksite can increase workers’ identification with the project objectives and their sense of connection to their work. stressors impacts via deliberate communication and support.
IMPLEMENTING THE BLUEPRINT
This information has been developed in consultation with industry partners implementing the Blueprint for Better Mental Health. MATES in Construction have Industry Engagement officers who can meet with you to work through activities or actions that your company or business can do to implement the Blueprint either on site or throughout your organisation. For more information contact us
Companies that can assist implementing this pillar:
Additional resources:
Visit Mates in Construction