Safety is not just physical

By Emma Peterson. 

Why mental health deserves the same attention as physical safety in the roofing and cladding trades. 

In the roofing and cladding trade, safety and health are often thought of in the physical sense – fall protection and safe tool handling. But the mental health and safety of our tradespeople are also hugely important. It is estimated that one in six workers in the U.K. is currently dealing with depression, anxiety or stress. And in the construction field, it’s suggested that as many as 350,000 people are suffering at any one time.  

These numbers can feel staggering and overwhelming, but there are ways we can all work to protect our tradespeople – physically and mentally. One such way that National Federation of Roofing Contractors recommends for their members and other professionals in the U.K. is to support Mates In Mind.  

Mates in Mind is a U.K. charity whose entire mission is to “raise awareness, improve understanding, implement effective interventions and address the stigma of mental ill-health.” Originally founded in 2017, Mates in Mind has partnered with over 700 organisations as part of their mission.  

Their work, while supporting the goal of building an overall more positive mental health culture, focuses on construction. This focus stems from the pressing nature of mental ill-health in the trades. A 2020 CIOB report found that “97% of construction workers had felt stressed, 87% had experienced anxiety and 70% had experienced depression over the past year.” Further, suicide in construction workers is 3.7 times higher than the national average. All of this goes to show the necessity of developing a more positive mental health culture where leaders and workers have access to the resources and tools needed to stay safe – mentally and physically.   

There are a number of ways individuals can support Mates in Mind and their mission. Some examples include fundraising in your community, advocating for your coworkers and breaking the silent stigmas at your workplace. Together, we can make change with employers of all sizes and at all levels to improve the quality of life for our entire workforce.  

Learn more about Mates in Mind at www.matesinmind.org.