A seminar was organised recently by North Ayrshire Business Team for the Garnock Community Campus Business Group on the topic of Mental Health and Wellbeing in the workplace. This is an area of growing concern for businesses and it’s becoming increasingly recognised that workplace environments play a significant role in shaping employees’ mental health.
The guest speakers on 6 September were Steven Allan of Concept HR, Stephen Rodgers the Wellbeing Champion from McTaggart Construction in Dalry and Nicola Campbell, the Regional Ambassador for the Lighthouse Construction Charity.
Steven Allan highlighted the importance of having a positive company culture that values mental health and fosters a positive and supportive work environment. He outlined the business impact of poor mental health. In 2023, mental ill health was the top cause of long-term sickness in the UK and more than 1 million fit notes were issued by the NHS relating to behavioural and mental disorders.
Stephen Rodgers from McTaggart Construction outlined some of the strategies the company has in place to help recognise and support employees. These include mental health awareness training to educate employees about mental health issues, stigma reduction, and available resources.
Nicola Campbell from the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity outlined their services. It is the only charity that provides emotional, physical and financial wellbeing support to the construction community and their families. The tragic loss of two construction workers to suicide a day is a serious issue that demands attention. The charity focusses on preventative measures and offers self-assessment tools, coping strategies and referral pathways to access further expert advice and support.
Overall, the seminar was thought provoking with powerful messages about the importance of employees’ mental health and wellbeing. It provided valuable and actionable steps for employers to foster a mentally healthy workplace and support employees facing challenges.
The feedback from all delegates was very positive with many planning to take part in Mental Health First Aid Training.
Comments from delegates:
“Many thanks for your time today, it was very useful and there were elements that I will definitely use in my dealings with my own team and other colleagues.”
“It was good to be a part of a community that has Mental Health & Wellbeing at the top of their agenda. The feedback from the attendees I managed to get a quick chat with talked very highly of all the speakers.”