Construction at the crux: Mental Health Awareness this October
On October 10, we marked World Mental Health Day, an initiative by The World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness for mental health issues and support greater wellbeing.
A strong culture of safety has always been a priority at Unispace. Last year we launched Safer Together, a company-wide global initiative that prioritizes the safety, health and well-being of our people, clients and communities.
This year, the WHO’s campaign focuses on inequality in mental health. As part of our Safer Together, Feel Safe initiative, we are running a month-long program that provides support and guidance for our people, with a focus on our valued construction team. Globally, our support touches upon:
- ‘How to create balance’
- Mental Health Toolbox Talks for our construction teams
- Guest meditation talk by Tami Roos
- Participating in the Global Real Estate Run
Construction workers are hard hit by mental health, recent global data show startling statistics:
- The UK Office of National Statistics (ONS) revealed that one construction worker takes their own life every day in the UK.
- The CDC reports that in the US, workers in the Construction industry have the second highest rate of death by suicide compared to any other industry, following the mining/quarrying/oil and gas extraction industry.
- The HRM Institute in Australia tells us that construction workers are six times more likely to die from suicide than an accident at work. The poor mental health status of construction workers is a global issue.
As a global company, Unispace is focused on addressing this issue cohesively.
“We need to encourage more conversations about mental wellness at work. The goal is to create a more open and inclusive culture, where everyone feels mentally secure and comfortable in their working environment.”
Lisa Young, Global Chief Risk Officer
Through our Safer Together campaign, we are working to take steps to improve mental health within the industry.
