MENTAL HEALTH FEATURES
A not so merry Christmas
Mental health issues are a growing concern in the construction industry – and the festive period can often make stress, depression and suicidal feelings even worse. However, help is at hand if you need it
M
Late pay Long hours Job uncertainty Working away Tight deadlines Poor welfare Site safety Financial pressures Work culture Drugs Alcohol Other
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% Source: Construction News’s Mind Matters survey 2019. Note: Respondents were able to choose multiple answers. 16 CABLEtalk DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020
ental health issues are already one of the biggest challenges to the electrical sector, but at Christmas, existing issues can
suddenly seem magnified. The festive period is extremely difficult for those suffering with stress, depression and other symptoms of serious mental strain. Christmas brings with it the expectation of expensive gifts
and overindulgence, which affects people already feeling the impact of late and unfair payments more than ever. The yuletide season is also a time for
overindulgence and alcohol – which can add an unbearable temptation to those who are recovering from, or struggling with, addiction. Luckily, help is at hand thanks to the Electrical Industries Charity (EIC), which works hard to support those struggling over the holiday season, including a special helpline that stays
WHICH FACTORS DO CONSTRUCTION WORKERS VIEW AS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO POOR MENTAL HEALTH?
open throughout the Christmas period. Tessa Ogle, CEO and MD of the EIC,
said: “The festive season, although a happy time for so many of us, can be a really difficult period for many of our electrical industry colleagues. “We know that mental illness knows no boundaries and does not discriminate. We also know that suicide rates in the electrical industry are already 2.7 times higher than the national average. “That’s why we offer a variety of ways to help people who may feel that they have nowhere to turn and can’t cope with the extra pressures that Christmas often brings. “We will help anyone who reaches out to us for assistance – whatever their circumstances.” The EIC says a third of the cases it deals with involve mental health issues and out of all the cases it supports, 76% of people are diagnosed with clinical depression or anxiety. Tessa added: “At Christmas time, seeing everyone in an endless good mood and enjoying sentiments of joy
Suicide rates among construction workers were more than three times the national average between 2011 and 2015. Source: Office of National Statistics, 2017
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