Local businesses collaborate to support staff mental health and wellbeing
Building contractor Speller Metcalfe has joined forces with Worcestershire-based HR consultancy, Elston HR, to support their workers with a range of mental health and wellbeing workshops.
Since February, over 250 attendees have voluntarily undertaken the bite-sized training sessions which address topics including general mental health awareness, resilience, stress management, anxiety, burnout and mindfulness. Sessions have been delivered online to make them as accessible as possible to site and office-based workers and they have been delivered as both as one-to-one coaching and as group workshops.
“Unfortunately, serious mental health problems are disproportionately prevalent within the construction industry compared to other jobs, especially amongst male workers.” said Speller Metcalfe communications and engagement manager, Kim Davies.
“There are many fantastic mental health campaigns and charities which are encouraging people to open up and talk more freely about their mental health, but doing so can be difficult when an individual may not even realise they have a problem, or really understand what they are struggling with.
“We have had mental health first aiders across the Speller Metcalfe group for a number of years now, who are trained to be able to spot the signs of mental health problems and provide signposts to support services, but recognised it would be a huge benefit to also offer this sort of awareness training across the entire business.
“The workshops are brilliant as they have provided our teams with the knowledge to understand more about their own mental health and what support is available, whilst also promoting the importance of looking out for friends and colleagues who may be struggling.”
As well as providing trained Mental Health First Aiders across the business, Speller Metcalfe’s senior management team has also completed a one day mental health first aid course to help identify and support those struggling with mental health.
Claire Elston, managing director of Worcester-based Elston HR, said: “It is fantastic to work with a company like Speller Metcalfe who are really taking the wellbeing of their staff seriously, especially considering the additional challenges we have all faced over the last year.
“Responsible employers understand that mental health is just as important as physical health. Providing this type of training in the workplace is so important as it not only helps to reduce stigma but also demonstrates to staff that they are working for a company that will support them properly should they find themselves effected by poor mental health.”
To find out more about Elston HR and the services they provide, contact: claire@elston-hr.co.uk or visit www.elston-hr.com
Pic: Kim Davies, communications & engagement manager, Speller Metcalfe and Claire Elston, director, Elston HR