A new Joint Code of Practice (JCOP) on mental health in the construction sector has been published by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC)
The mental health code of practice was developed by The Department for Business and Trade, Heathrow, The Crown Estate, Bam UK and Ireland, Mates in Mind, and The University of Warwick, with support from Marsh, BCLP, and the New Hospital Programme.
As suicide remains prevalent in the industry, with construction workers being four times more likely to take their own lives, CLC say “the time for action, as leaders, is now.”
Focusing on prevention rather than intervention
The CLC recognise the wonderful work being undertaken by organisations such as Mates in Mind, but say that these efforts focus on intervention, i.e. once workers are already struggling with mental health.
The JCOP therefore is designed to act more in the interest of prevention, and giving businesses and leaders the tools to give their employees support before they reach a stage where more urgent action is required.
The CLC have taken a representative sample and found that the core demographic of the UK’s construction industry – men ranging from mid- to late-working life – face several challenges to speaking up on their mental health issues.
The new mental health JCOP also helps achieve the goals set by England’s first Men’s Health Strategy and the cross-government Suicide Prevention Strategy for England, which recognises the importance of work and working conditions on men’s mental health, and aims to have employers establish appropriate support for their staff.
The JCOP will now be trialled before full adoption
33 Piccadilly and 10 Picadilly in London, two new developments by Kier Construction for The Crown Estate, will see the code trialled.
The CLC emphasises that the code, available here, is “a joint code, written by the sector, for the sector” and that employers and leaders should adopt the code, and improve it to help the sector as a whole.
Minister McDonald, minister for industry and co-chair of the Construction Leadership Council, said: “We are still losing far too many people working in construction to suicide and behind every number is a family, a friend, a colleague whose life has been cut short. That is simply not good enough. This Code is about facing up to that reality and taking action early, so people get the support they need before it reaches crisis point.
“As we build the homes and infrastructure our country needs, we must also look after the people making that possible. Through the Department for Business and Trade, we are working with industry to drive real change, improving conditions on site, tackling stigma and making construction a place where everyone feels safe, supported and able to speak up.”
Baroness Merron, minister for mental health, said: “It is really encouraging to see the construction industry taking this crucial step to ensure the wellbeing of its workforce, and I hope it sets a strong example for other sectors to follow.
“This government believes mental health is just as important as physical health, which is why we are investing record amounts in mental health services and recruiting more mental health professionals than ever before.
“Mental health is shaped not just by healthcare services, but at work, at home, in schools and in our communities. That’s why this initiative is so important and why our new, cross-government mental health strategy will drive the shift from crisis intervention to preventative care.”
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