Tideway backs ‘Mates in Mind’ as the mental health programme launches across the construction industry

A pioneering programme backed by Tideway and designed to tackle mental health issues in construction has been rolled out across the industry.

‘Mates in Mind’ aims to provide clear information to employers on available support and guidance on mental health, mental illness and mental wellbeing, and how they can address this within their organisations.

Tideway was one of the first companies to pilot the programme earlier this year. The British Safety Council delivered some pilot “start the conversation” sessions, aiming to break down the stigma associated with mental health, and get people talking. People who took part were able to help improve and shape the sessions that are delivered now. 

Mates in Mind was launched to the wider industry this week.

Steve Hails, Director of Health, Safety and Wellbeing at Tideway and Chair of the Mates in Mind Board, said: “Mates in Mind represents a meaningful way forward for tackling mental ill health in the workplace whilst also encouraging a positive wellbeing culture. Uniquely, this approach offers flexibility which enables a business to tailor the resources to their needs so that priorities can be more effectively targeted. In doing so, it should be possible to start making serious progress into an issue that is currently the source of much needless pain for so many.

“At Tideway, health, safety and wellbeing is at the forefront of everything we do and it made perfect sense for us to be one of the first organisations to pilot this pioneering programme. It is hugely rewarding to see it becoming widely available and start making steps towards tackling an issue which has often been overlooked.”

According to Health and Safety Executive figures, 18 per cent of reported work-related illnesses in the UK construction industry are the result of mental health problems, such as stress, depression or anxiety – accounting for 400,000 working days lost each year. Furthermore, industry data reports that 55 per cent of construction workers had experienced mental health issues whilst 42 per cent are living with these issues at their current workplace. Construction deaths from suicide are also believed to be potentially ten times higher than that of fatal accidents at work.